Sydney gets New Year started, but Gaza spoils party SYDNEY (AFP) - New Year celebrations kicked off in lavish style in Australia Thursday -- but the Gaza conflict, memories of Mumbai and global economic downturn left partygoers elsewhere feeling flat as 2009 crept steadily westwards. 2009 Real Estate Forecast: Troubles Spread 2008 was the year that subprime borrowers and speculators got hurt by the real estate crisis. 2009 could be when everyone else gets hit.