An Australian father has revealed he packed up his life and family and moved to Bali after deciding he could no longer stand living Down Under.
Matt Cameron, an entrepreneur-turned-social media influencer, took to Instagram to explain he was sick of “working for a system” that viewed him as “a source of cash”, and has vowed never to return to his homeland.
“We didn’t leave for palm trees. We left because Australia declared war on the people trying to build wealth,” he wrote.
In a video clip, Cameron can be seen gleefully walking through the airport with his wife and their two young children before boarding their plane.
In the caption, he cited high taxes, inflation and cost of living as his reasons for leaving Australia, and warned other Aussies: “When you combine [the three]…you’re f****d! And you’re funding a system that keeps asking for more money every single year.”
“Australia used to reward hard work (30 years ago). Now it punishes it,” he went on to his 155,000 followers.
“We didn’t want to spend our lives working for a system that sees us as a number, a threat, or a source of cash.
“So we opted out, moved our family, moved our money, started building in places that still reward risk and effort, and now, we are killing it in Bali.”
His video has gone viral, attracting both support and fierce criticism from other Australians.
Some viewers accused him of exaggerating Australia’s high costs and idealising a life abroad.
“There’s valid criticism to be made, but a few claims here aren’t accurate,” one critic stated.
“Australia doesn’t have the world’s highest taxes…Australia also doesn’t have the world’s highest inflation or cost of living.
“It’s still one of the highest wage economies with strong opportunities for skilled workers and business owners. We should debate policy based on facts, not exaggeration.”
“First person back on a plane for Medicare when he needs medical help btw,” added another, while a third quipped: “Fantastic. So I take it you will be giving up your citizenship then?”
Others were more supportive of Cameron’s move, including one small business owner who commented: “I agree. Small business here is extremely difficult!
“So many roadblocks and so much of our hard work goes straight to them. Feeling very much like the government gets the biggest slice of our hard work.”
“Man, that’s so cool,” another chimed in. “You’re a legend.”