Mike@Bonbeach

No problems. When we went back to the UK for a visit 3 yrs ago ,we transferred some money back into our UK current account through one of the FOREX companies and all went well, even though we hadn't used the Halifax account for about 4 yrs. Were able to use our debit cards as normal. Mike

Don't tell anyone in Melbourne that winter only lasts 7 weeks. Today at the golf we were all rugged up. I started with 4 layers, T shirt,polo, sweater and a lightweight windcheater and nearing the end of the round I had to put my waterproof jacket on just to feel comfortable for the last few holes. Some people have a lot to learn about Australia. Mike

Hi surfersj I'll try and answer a couple of your questions. We came out on a CPV in 2007,luckily the GBP/$au was in our favour then,so we didn't have to be "rich" to make the move although it was expensive. The Commonwealth Seniors card can be obtained after 2 years in Au as an entitlement. The AOS pays a 6 monthly return to the AOS holder, I think it is about 5.5% and is returned in full after 10 years providing you have not made any claims for social benefits. The CSHC also gives you quarterly payments to help with things like telephone,internet etc(currently around $400 a quarter per couple). Unfortunatel being a UK pensioner gets you very little in the way of concessions. dental and optical expenses have to be paid in full unless you have Extras linked to your Hospital insurance, and then it depends on the level of cover you have. We currently pay around $260 per month for Hospital and Extras insurance, this gets us about 30% reduction on dental and optical. The Hospital cover has been very good for us, we have both had cataracts done, I have had a stent fitted and a number of other things which would have cost the earth had we not been covered. I would certainly recommend the Hospital cover, not so sure of the benefit of extras as it covers a lot of things that we have had no need of. Your UK pensions are deemed as income so you will be taxed on the full amount less any allowances. It is nice to see the GBP/$Au exchange rate improving in the GBP's favour after having 6 years of dwindling income. As far as the UK paying Commonwealth pensioners any increase in their pensions forget it. Good luck on your future. Mike

I am amazed at someone saying that they are only getting $15000 back rebate for child care. That is a lot more than I get from the UK Age pension and not far off my private pension(UK) that I worked for more than 20 years in one company. Any child care we used when our children were young had to be paid for in full with no rebate. Mike

Hi I have met a few people from Sandhurst and the feeling was that it is very isolated. A car is an absolute must. Have a look further west. There is a fantastic Golf Club at Bonbeach (Patterson River GC) with quite a few houses for sale in the area, new,newish and old. Mike

Littlesarah and Notts Thanks for that info, I was surprised I couldn't find out anything (in plain English) when looking at their website. Mike

My UK licence expired a few years ago, didn't realise it until we went to hire a car when back on holiday 2 yrs ago. Luckily we had our Au licences. I have scoured the DVLC website looking to see how I can re-activate the licence but can find no mention of how to do it. I emailed them and the reply was that it couldn't be done from outside the UK, and that they don't grant UK licences on the strength of foreign (including Au) licences. So I guess that if we were to return to the UK permanently we would have to re-apply and do the whole test thing again. Mike

What's that saying? There are lies,damn lies and statistics. Mike

Just because you may earn more why should you pay more for the same product? If you go into Bakers Delight for a loaf of bread, they don't ask you how much you earn and charge accordingly. Mike

If they do decide eventually to go ahead with the scheme they should get the French to build it for them in half the time and probably half the cost, but knowing Australia they will probably want to do all themselves, re-inventing the wheel as they go. Then you'll probably find that they then re-invent a new ticketing system which will take years to sort out,(here in Melbourne we have the infamous MYKI system). Visitors to Melbourne can't even jump on a train or tram and buy a one-off ticket. Mike

Connie and I came here on the 143 visa back in 2007. Throughout the visa process the $/GBP was around the $2.50/1GBP mark and we thought it was a lot of money then but we persisted. Luckily we were able to sell our house at a top price in Scotland (St Andrews) and get ourselves established here before the GBP started its downward trend. I would say that if we were just starting the process now we would have many second thoughts about doing it, and would probably make do with annual trips out to see our son and his wife. Our only regular income comes from the UK in the form of pensions and the $ equivalent has fallen so much that we are starting to encroach on our capital which is never a good thing to do. We have even talked about selling up here and moving back to the UK making good profit due to the exchange rate and just start coming out here for the UK winters. Good luck whatever you decide for your parents. Mike PS. Previous posters are correct in that you(your sponsor) will only get the AOS $14000 back after 10 years. After 2 years they would qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card (depending on their ages) which would get them reduced prescription costs, help with telephone/internet costs, but not a lot else.

This is a release from the ALP, and don't forget there is an election campaign on and on and on. Mike

Hi I'm not in Perth but would think prices would be similiar in Perth. I recently bought a Giant Roam XR1 2012 Hybrid for $1299 so that should give you something to compare. Also shops rarely do trade in deals on bikes as they have to be licensed to do that,so they tell me.(Victoria). Mike

Hi We bought some extra premium bonds when we were back in the UK last year with no problems and we used our Australian address. Check out www.nsandi.com .Should tell you how to buy from abroad, I know our son bought some from Australia last year for our granddaughter,so it can be done. Mike

They seemed to be obsessed with any speeding, I'm sure they could get a lot more in fines if they diverted some of their traffic police to looking at other infringements. for example, at the top of our road there is a halt sign, and I reckon 90% of drivers do not come to a halt. At the same junction they could also catch drivers going through the level crossing on red flashing lights. When the train has gone through, the barriers always lift and the red lights continue to flash for quite a few seconds, and if you're the first in the queue and you don't go immediately the gates lift, invariably you'll get a blast on a horn from someone behind you. So a discretely placed copper could rake in quite a bit. Mike

We brought a few slabs of chocolate back from the UK, declared it on the declaration form and we were taken out of the queue and sent to another desk and so got through quite quickly. Mike

So the Scots guy was fined $3000 after his assault and allowed to return to the UK. Shane Warne swore at another cricketer, threw a ball at him and pulled his shirt and got fined $4500 and suspended for one game by the cricket authorities. Maybe the judges and the cricket authorities should change jobs. Mike

One other thing that I wonder about. Lets say 2 UK pensioners who are living in Au return to the UK(intending it to be a permanent return) their pensions would be raised to the full entitlement assuming they have the qualifying years. What would happen to their pensions ,if, say after 12 months or so, they decided the return to the UK was the wrong thing to do and then moved back to Au.(They are by now Australian citizens). Would their UK pensions remain at the new level or revert back to what it was before they left Au initially?. Mike

Hi Bonniem We have the big Family Q Weber, it has the thermometer so you can check on the cooking so easily. It really is so simple, steaks are done in a couple of minutes a side, and it really cooks the most superb pork and beef roasts especially if you don't keep lifting the lid to see how things are doing, hence the thermometer. One downside though is that after many cooking sessions you do get fat and juices running out from around the sides, but as long as you have something like cardboard underneath you should be OK. Mike

The Sandringham line is not much good if you want to get to stations past Cheltenham. Mike

We're driving up to Coolangatta next week from Melbourne and one of our points of interest on the way is Grafton where they make a show of the Jacaranda trees. Looking forward to that. Mike

We moved over in 2007.There was a good exchange rate, and we had sold our house at the top rate. The Contributory Parents Visa was priced in $AU as was the Assurance of Support. I honestly believe that if we were contemplating the move now we would not be able to afford it, or at least not be able to do things we like to do when we want to do them. It would be a very hard decision to make now especially as we now have two lovely granddaughters, who were the prime reason for us coming here in the first place. Mike

Hi We are retired here in Australia, and both receiving Age Pensions and private pensions from the UK. All pensions are paid UK tax free into our Aussie bank accounts and is considered earned income as far as Australian Tax Office is concerned. There is about 8% tax allowance on the Government Aged pensions I believe. Mike

It seems that you only have to work 1 hour per week to be considered "employed". Have a look at www.news.com.au and check out the business section. (surprise fall in unemployment) and note the comments. Mike

I agree, they expect you to answer your application truthfully, eg, when was the last time you had an accident, or how many years claim free? I guess if you said 10 yrs since last accident and then had one straight away they might look for proof and invalidate your policy if you unswered untruthfully. Certainly we have never been asked for proof. Mike