Australian prosperity lacks substance and restraint (9)
I believe the answer is:
austerity
'restraint' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'australian prosperity lacks substance' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'australian' could be 'aus' (common abbreviation) and 'aus' is located in the answer.
'substance' could be 'te' (Te is an example) and 'te' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for austerity that I've seen before include "Asceticism" , "Harshness" , "Severe self-discipline; lack of luxury/adornment" , "State of severe simplicity and moderation" , "Severeness of manner" .)