i think our secret's out

I am pretty much digging life in Brisbane. I have gone on about this, not quite ad nauseum, enough in previous blogs so don't feel the need to carry on here. The point I want to make is that it would seem the rest of Oz thinks that Brisbane is a little backwater country town (it's the third biggest in the country) where everyone wears RM William clothing and just comes into town to get feed for their steers and what have you. However, I think the secret may be out now. First of all there was a feature article in the Australia Traveller magazine under the title of "Viva Bris Vegas" and the opening part of the article goes on waxing lyrical about my own favourite mode of transport - the City Cat. It went on to say: "The idea of of going to Brisbane for a holiday might once have seemed preposterous - somewhere to escape rather than embrace - but the city now has more than enough on offer to cater for all tastes". *Stu Gulps frantically and hopes that AT is not very well read*. Well AT may be little-read but the Australian - a Murdoch owned broadsheet that is nay bad except its online articles could do with proofing before being published - certainly isn't. Today - I think i have mentioned I have it delivered by a man in a large 4x4 who throws it in the vague direction of the property - one of the lead articles on the front page is on Queensland's prosperity and also references the dual ticket of Prime Minister Rudd and Treasurer Swan- both Queensland boys - will increase the focus on the state (the first Rudd cabinet was held in Brisbane). Some of the point's around the states growth the article makes are quoted by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh:

1. First in Australia for growth in business investment, with 20% growth every year for the past 5 years;
2. First for employment and population growth;
3. First for creation of full-time jobs;
4. First for public infrastructure spending ($14bn worth)
5. First for growth in home loan lending;
6. Second (to the Mexicans down south) as most popular destination for overseas visitors; and
7. Second (to WA) for growth in business profit - 20% in the past year or three times the rate of NSW and double that of Victoria.

I suppose my point is, I love Brisbane for what it is and I hope it doesn't change too much. Yes it is growing, yes it needs to maintain growth (after all I am an economic migrant) but it also needs to retain its own little charm.