Vision for Australia, you are not comparing apples with apples when you compare Australia with almost any other developed nation, and this is why.

You mentioned Japan as an example.

Let's just assume every 100 km of infrastructure costs the same to build here, as it does anywhere. The difference is, that here in Oz, we could lay 100's of km of track that would simply serve to connect one station to the next, whereas in Japan, this same 100's of km of track could potentially service the needs of twenty million people.

Now of cause our costs are so much higher than in most places, from the likes of enviro consultants, planners and engineers, right through to on the ground workers, so expecting Australia to have what other heavily populated, higher density living countries has, is pointless because we simply suffer from a lack of bums on seats.

Of cause the other fundamental problem we now have, is lack of money.

VfA,

You said "....then we'd be hosting the likes of Pavarotti in a town hall instead of a world class Opera House."

We don't have a world class opera house, the Tram Depot on Benalong Point, that it replaced, was a better looking building that fitted its surrounds. It also served a useful purpose.

The Sydney Opera House was ill planed and the original seats were bloody uncomfortable and there was no provision for the disabled and very little provision for the able

Actually, the opera house as first designed would have fallen down
during construction if it wasn't for the Consulting engineers.
They were suspicious of the design of the roof and put it through the
KDF9 at Sydney Uni and so changed the shape of the roof.
The change affected the internals and that was what the row with Utson
was all about. He got in a huff and took his bucket & spade and went home.

So true, Bazz.

Then there was the time when a Builders Labourer asked one of the Foremen where all the toilet bowls, that had just been delivered, were to go.
There was nowhere for them on the plans and that's why men were forced to stand 5 or 6 to a bowl and relieve themselves during interval.

Those who wished to defecate just had to miss part of the show!!

Those who wished to defecate just had to miss part of the show!!
is Mise,
And the Tossers missed it alltogether. Did you feel bad about not seeing it ?

Individual,

I didn't miss any of the show, I knew of the problem before hand and made it to the Gents in the first rush, still had to share a bowl though.
I believe that during one of the refurbs that lifts were installed, I don't know if the toilet arrangements have improved as I don't frequent the place.
There was a fine Opera House in Sydney already and purpose built for opera, I forget the name but I think that it was in Elizabeth Street.
I do remember that its seating capacity was greater than that of the main hall of the SOH and that the seats were far more comfortable; luxurious in comparison.