Depends on your profession. Others have noted that on average, the answer is no, but without calculating the stats, I would expect the lower wage earners to be

Depends on your profession. Others have noted that on average, the answer is no, but without calculating the stats, I would expect the lower wage earners to be better off in Australia (especially when costs for healthcare and other services are near zero). A few years ago, Australians were the wealthiest people in the World (they slipped to number 2 last year). This is private assets, nothing to do with income, government income and expenditure etc. What does this show? Not much really, just pointing out that statistics is hard, and if you don't like what something shows, then change the metric until you find the news you want. In other words, take everything that people are saying (including me) with a grain of salt.