Despite the failure to haul the boat out we set off on Friday afternoon for Brisbane, arriving in heavy rain in the early evening. We took a taxi to the hotel. As we chatted to the driver he divulged that he had only been in Brisbane for a couple of months and would be returning shortly to Sydney because of the racist abuse he receives in the city. Although he was an Australian citizen he is constantly asked even by well spoken businessmen when he is returning to India, and there is frequent abuse by other drivers and customers. He felt it was much better in Sydney. Many Australians, particularly but not exclusively in Queensland are casually racist. The Commonwealth Games have provided a particular opportunity for this unpleasant side of the Australian character to come out. Athletes refer to Indians as monkeys, even Australia's version of the Times, the Australian, a Murdoch owned paper has been printing racist cartoons of cows shitting in swimming pools. Immigrant societies are often noted for the racism directed at the most recent group of immigrants but the anti Indian sentiment in the country is quite remarkable. Curiously despite a history of anti Chinese riots in the 1920s and 30s attacks on the Chinese are seen as out of order. We visited the galleries and museums in Brisbane. They are a remarkable achievement the South Bank of the river has galleries, museums, libraries and even a big wheel reminiscent of London. However, the Brisbane South Bank is far more pleasant, attractively landscaped along the river side with proper paths for pedestrians and cyclists, numerous cafes and entertainment for children. The art in the gallery, again a beautifuly designed building with some outstanding pieces of European art, strongly reflect the English influence in Australia making scant reference to the other later groups of immigrants to the area. The influence of the Irish and later Indian and Asian communities is missed. Ships came from England. You are left wondering how anyone else got here.

Outside in the streets the Irish influence is perhaps more evident since Australia is to have its own saint, Mary McKillop a nun from the early 20th century. ABC the state TV program is doing documentaries, posters are everywhere. Apparently a prayer to her cures you of all sorts.

Brisbane oozes prosperity. Australians are now the third richest people in the world their papers claim. The streets are lined with Mercedes and BMW dealers. New elegant buildings are being erected everywhere. The restuarants serve fine food. You see no beggars on the street. No doubt they would quickly be arrested. There are notices prohibiting things everywhere. Notwithstanding the reputation for being a carefree people Australians are remarkably regulated and controlled. Maybe it comes from insecurity. After all it is not so long that the country was inhabited by Aborigines, an unspoken presence in Brisbane. However, there is an air of confidence that comes from the wealth. The generally young employed population have few cares, and as long as they can continue to provide minerals to China, albeit at an increasing price the prosperity will continue. The risk is that as the Australian dollar rises the economy will become more and more dependent on mineralsand the other sectors , farming and manufacturing will become increasingly uncompetitive.