The Roadhouse Dictionary of Australian Language

The Roadhouse has an audience reaching beyond these shores that are girt by sea that has requested we explain a few local idioms.

Language is the mainstay of modern civilisation. It is an organic being and always subject to change.

We encourage our readers to contribute to our dictionary. Please send your submissions to wally@resourcesroadhouse.com.au

The Roadhouse is a family establishment so please keep your contributions publishable.

A

Africa: Where Australian-based, ASX-listed companies search for gold.

Australian Innovation: Something the country has in spades but, unlike 1982, now lacks the provision to put any of it into action.

See: Matilda the Winking Kangaroo

Australian Securities Exchange: Because most investors don’t feel too secure these days is colloquially referred to as the Australian Stock Market.

B

Banana Benders: Colloquial term used for Queenslanders due to the tropical state’s banana trade being for a large chunk of the country’s intake.

Big Pineapple, The: A 16 metre-high landmark and tourist attraction, which is a working pineapple and nut farm situated at Woombye near Nambour in Queensland.

 

Set a trend for the proliferation of ‘Big’ tourist attractions around the country.

See: Pineapple, Rough end of.

Bob Hawke’s Surf Team: In the 1980s many Dole recipients would be itinerant surfers who would collect their dole checks from Post Offices up and down the coastline of Australia as they chased the best waves.

Put to end by former Prime Minister John Howard’s, Work for the Dole scheme.

See: Un-Australian.

Brothel Creepers: The name given to white shoes worn by retiree males; especially those moving to Queensland from colder southern states.

Burkina Faso: See Africa.

C

Canada: Apparently where all mining companies will go once the Mining Tax settles in.

 

See: Mining Tax; MRRT;RSPT.

D
Diggers and Dealers: (aka Diggers) An annual conference held in the wild Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie where mining companies, financial institutions, and members of The Media gather to tell each other how good they are.

See: Skimpies

E

F

G

Gold: Best performing commodity price-wise since the Global Financial Crisis.

 

See: Africa.

H

I

Iron Ore: What BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Xstrata allegedly won’t be paying taxes on.

 

J

K

L

M

Matilda the Winking Kangaroo: State-of-the-art robot kangaroo that was the mascot for the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

 

Set the world alight with its breath-taking technology, which enabled it to wink at the camera.

See: Australian innovation.

Mining Tax: First came to public attention in The Henry Report and picked up and run with under the banner of the Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT) by the Labor Government, led by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The tax was fine-tuned through a conciliatory process inclusive of government, by this stage led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and the three biggest mining outfits in Australia, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, and Xstrata, to become the Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT).

The three companies have since been reported in the press to be allegedly bragging to senior Liberal politicians they won’t pay a cent extra in tax.

Did they ever?

See: RSPT; MRRT.

N

O

P

Pineapple, Rough end of: Something not everybody would like to receive, especially given the way it is intended to be delivered.

See: RSPT; MRRT.

Q

R

S

Skimpies: Barmaids who work in the hotels of the wild Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie during Diggers and Dealers. 

T

U

Un-Australian: Term coined by John Howard to describe anything that detracts from the idyllic Australian lifestyle.

See: Bob Hawke’s Surf Team.

V

W

White shod pensioner: (aka White Shoe brigade) Queensland became the go-to place for Australian retirees. The chosen footwear by most male retirees became white slip-on shoes.

See: Brothel Creepers.

X

Y

Z