Massive cost of housing and living protests in Israel - why not in Australia?

Israel has become the latest country to be swept by a citizens uprising. On July 30th 150,000 Israeli's both Jews and Arabs marched to demand the government act on the cost of housing and the cost of living more generally. Other specific demands of the protest movement include more affordable child care, more money for public hospitals and opposition to the policies of privitization and the free market that have exacerbated the gap between the rich and poor.

An excellent article on the protest can be found at the World Socialist Web Website. What I found fascinating about the article is that so many of the greivances that people are taking to the streets in Israel about can be found in Australia. The protests in Israel were started by largely middle class young people who set up "tent cities" to protest over the cost of housing. Why haven't we seen similar movements start up in Australia where the cost of housing and living in general are going through the roof for ordinary people. How long before a movement independant of the ALP and the Unions calling for social change and justice spring up in Australia.

Jewish, Arab workers, youth protest against social conditions in Israel

Update from World Socialist Web 7th August

Largest-ever social protests in Israel