Ellie 2

Given the relatively small population and the 3 tiers of government, I would say too much money is spent on the bureaucracies. There should be a debate about this. Would it be feasible to do away with State governments and Local Councils and have simply a Federal Government and 2 or 3 state area based councils/committees?

How insulting you are to your in laws. Could it be that they have lived in Australia longer than you and have more experience of what life is like under governments of differing ideologies?

I'm not hanging my head in shame! You are conveniently forgetting who got the country into this mess in the first place. Please don't say we have less debt than most first World countries and don't blame the GFC. The country was debt free in 2006. Didn't take Labor long to fix that.

I have already stated in an earlier post how I believed that the old system of private cover was much better. I'll give you two examples to compare. Early eighties, before the Labor government interfered with what health funds could pay, it was discovered that I had been born with only one kidney and it was damaged. I had an operation at RNS in Sydney performed by their head of surgery. My medical Benefits paid for everything including follow up consultations, scans etc. Did not cost me a cent. Fast forward to December 2013 when I had to have open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. After rebates, the fees for surgeon, xrays, scans, lung drain and follow up consultations etc has so far cost me almost $4k. and I expect at least another $200 this week. Perhaps now you will understand why I am all for the old health system. Mr Whitlam should have left well enough alone!

It was a much better system before medicare. Then everyone who worked paid for private medical benefits and that was it. No levies or gaps. Now people pay the levy, private health cover and the funds are not allowed to pay the total bill. I got money back from my health fund when I had my third son because I paid top cover and they didn't have a private room available at the time.

I would think that, of the two, they'd go to Pennant Hills, however there is the express bus that travels along the M2. I don't know whether that goes any where near St Leonards. Hopefully someone who does a similar commute will come along soon.

I can be picky too. I said that if you choose the time carefully at weekends not week days, also I pointed out to you that I was commenting on the post I quoted, which was NOT the OP's post. Please read my response to the OP's post before accusing me of giving misinformation. I don't believe I made any unpleasant personal comments but simply commented on my perception of your post. As I do not know you how can I comment on anything other than that. Altho' some people seem to as I have been virtually called a liar on this form, in times passed.

Accurate description of what it used to be but out dated now. I can drive from the Hills,anytime outside afternoon peak, in under an hour. Can do the same at weekends if you choose your time of travel carefully. Haven't done the trip by train for years but I believe it's 1/1.5 hrs.

My eldest son has lived there since he was married almost 25 years ago. They have been very happy there. It has changed a lot in that time. I really enjoy going up there, The beach at Umina is very safe for young children as is Ettalong. Shopping and restaurants have improved and the train to the City is around 10 minutes away at Woy Woy. My son's two children went to Umina PS, which has a pretty good reputation. They were very happy there. What child wouldn't be in a school right on the beach.

As we are all giving opinions on the subject with very little knowledge, it would be interesting to know the answer to: Would B O'F have given the job to this person if he had not received the wine? Doubt that will ever be answered. Personally. I take most things I read in newspapers with a pinch of salt.

Hell. I'm 27891! That can't be right. Must have put in the wrong date!!!!

I applauded B O'F for doing the right thing. Never suggested he get away with anything because the others did! Wonder where ICAC was when Labor was in power. Oh, silly me, they had a majority and so nothing would get through to ICAC. That's what the "fair and ethical" comment was pertaining too

You obviously miss my point, as have others. B O'F has done the right thing but in all those years of Labour many people got away with millions and sent this state almost bankrupt. Is that fair? I think not, especially when the person concerned is working so hard to get the state's economy moving again.

I in no way condone corruption and the $3000 would not have paid for any of my children's healthcare as I have always had private cover. You obviously have no idea what went on with the previous government. NSW was virtually bankrupt when the Libs got back in and my point is that the other lot got away with millions and B O'F ,who is getting the state back into working order, does the right thing over a piddling amount of money, whilst the other lot go scott free. I wouldn't call that fair or ethical.

Corruption was rife for 20 years under Labor but nothing ever reached ICAC. Now we lose the first politician in that time whose government is trying to get NSW "back on it's feet" over a $3000 bottle of wine! It's ludicrous.

I think the opposition have a brass neck complaining about the speaker. I watched Question Time,during Labor's time in office, until I got sick of the speaker.Not one question was answered properly. They always managed to turn the answer around to an attack on the Libs and I never once saw a Lib objection upheld or a Labor MP sent from the Chamber.

Has been done in Australia for years. You will find ESL classes in most schools. Lessons are taught in English. Depending on how poor their English is, the ESL children are removed from the classroom to have special English lessons.

Your daughter would be in Yr 2, in NSW, this year. You are correct in thinking that your son would not start school until Jan '16. There are very few government subsidised preschools attached to primary schools. Private preschools are very expensive. The government does give help with fees if you are a PR, but they still make a big hole in your take home pay.

Don't have any children at high school now so my opinion could be out dated, although all Hills schools do have good reputations. Here's a list of the government High Schools. Baulkham Hills (selective), Crestwood HS, Model Farms HS, Kellyville HS. Have a look at their websites. There are also some very good private schools. Oh, the ones I listed are in the three areas you mentioned. There is also Northmead HS which was an excellent high school but now specialises in the arts so don't know if it is still good academically.

There is no inheritance tax in Australia. You would be liable, as stated earlier, for tax on any interest gained.

Sorry, didn't look properly at where you were! Just assumed it was Newcastle, NSW.

I could recommend a groomer but she is in Sydney.

There are serviced apartments in Parramatta. www.meritonapartments.com.au There are others if you google serviced apartments Parramatta.

Council Rates are based on land value not the size of the house you build on it.