"Australians clap on the beat turning everything into a march."

They're not alone! I once saw a folkie encouraging the audience to clap, then scolding them for clapping on the beat - which was fair enough, given that about two-thirds of the audience were musicians themselves. But a lot of punters aren't very comfortable with the off-beat.

WE PROUDLY WELCOME TONY ORLANDO
The State Fair marquee reads
Inside a thousand people with yellow ribbons sing
And clap on 1 and 3
- Yo La Tengo