"And before you say, well they should make choices bla bla, what...

"And before you say, well they should make choices bla bla, what if the husband is a professional who's work is in the city. Are you suggesting their choice should be live out in woop woop and he commute for hours each way and never see his kids?"

At least in Sydney, there are plenty of cheaper suburbs (out west) within an hour of the CBD, so the reality is that it is a choice that people make. Live on the North Shore on two salaries or out west on one salary. Most suburbs are at least 30 minutes door to door in Sydney. By the time I get to the ferry and walk from circular quay takes me 50 minutes.