Government handouts? They were taking $110 a week in income tax and gave me $10 back to support 4 children. People back in the 80's bought a house for a home, not an investment. Not all people live in the cities of Sydney or Melbourne. Prices were out of reach, back in the 80's in these cities for me too, on my above award wage ha hah There was no way I could get a loan for $80,000 on $300 a week