Its a little egocentric to expect a metropolitan area of 2 million to not be able to invent something. The world economy isn't on hold because one location is doing well.
It's just that in a town where everyone knows everyone, we'd expect to hear about awesome stuff like this happening locally before it hits HN ;)
(Disclaimer: Sandgroper.)
I think it's more that finally, because of the internets, people can genuinely change the world from Perth. They always had to move East or North before. Now we actually have people here making a global impact we get astonished by it, and very very proud :)
I've decided to read the local news more often, so by chance I did come across this the other day.In general I suspect there are many more world class projects coming out of the unis, research institutes, mining engineering firms and just smart people working away within their own circle of interest. Many of which will never be heard from either within the startup community or general public.