The minimum wage in Australia is $20.33 an hour. The average wage for waitstaff is $26.50 per hour. This is why you don’t need to tip here but if someone goes above and beyond especially in a high class restaurant you MAY tip them personally. It avoids the bad taste in your mouth when you MUST TIP for bad service. My personal opinion and I think you agree that the US has got it all wrong. Just pay higher wages and build the cost into the meal! Fairer all the way round.