Well down in country WA not being able to use the word mate would probably cut more than 30% of the vocabulary of us country bumpkins, couple with darl, bloke and sheila - it would be a very quite corner of the country!

But lets not stop there why should anyone be able to say Cheers! Crikey! or Onya cobba! Or even Chur Bro! as I here a lot up at work from our neighbours!

I'm sorry but I'm proud to be Australian, still say Merry Christmas, Baa baa black sheep and Too Bloody Right until the cows come home!