Ask HN: How is the technology scene in Australia?

Depends on the field.

Right now the ATO (Australian Tax Office) is undergoing a vast reengineering of how business and organizations deal with government. The project is SBR (https://www.sbr.gov.au/). There is a lot of LOB software that needs to comply and have this stuff retrofitted. Most of it is Java.

Given the geographical size of Australia and states, and relative isolation of major centres from each other, and tendency of certain jobs to be more prevalent in certain states (mining in WA/Qld, defence in NSW/Vic/SA, etc), you will have to be a lot more specific. Relative pay and living costs also differ likewise between parts of the country.

Perhaps try looking at https://www.seek.com.au/, https://www.indeed.com.au/, etc.

Sydney and Melbourne have lots of Java jobs. Typ pay is 120kAud which is About 90kusd for mid level, I guess this is a bit less than a typical USA job but better than Europe (except London)

Also .ner shops would give a Java dev a go.