For all you intellegent guys out there who want to express opinion and advise, have to wonder what your logic is.
Pay comes down to one thing like anything else. Supply and DEMAND.
This industry like everything else goes in one big cycle. Eventually pay will rebound and be on a par with the pre 9/11 days. As the DEMAND for pilots grows. Thats why the asian and middle east carriers pay what they do. WHo really wants to live there and work. No ONE! Who wants to live in Australia and work? EVERYONE. Qantas and Jetstar will never have to pay what the rest of the world does simply for that reason.
It then comes back to one thing. IF you became a pilot because you love flying, then you will always be happy. If you became a pilot to become rich, then you F*&^%D UP! Pissoff out of the industry and become a doctor or froklift driver and leave the job to the people who genuinely want to be there for the love of it. STOP BITCHING AND WHINGING ABOUT THE INDUSRTY THAT HAS BEEN HEADING TOWARDS THIS SITUATION IN THIS COUNRTY FOR THE LAST 10-15 YEARS. It may not be right but it is the way it is.