akiralx

I don't think Geoff is correct - the Local Government Pension Scheme is not freezing pensions for overseas residents.

Your post makes no sense - the MPs' scheme, like most occupational schemes, is indexed wherever you live - it is only the state pension that can be frozen for residents of certain countries. I believe politicians are realising that a large number of expats pensioners are returning to the UK, unable to survive on a frozen pension, so that is costing the UK state in terms of aged care. It may be cheaper to unfreeze UK state pensions.

Yes, which the OP wouldn't be paying as income too low. We (mid/late 40s) don't have medical cover - I refuse to pay the absurd loading. I just use the public health system.

Didn't someone post the annual Vic Crime Survey showing Point Cook as the highest Melbourne suburb for burglaries with 1 break-in per 67 dwellings?

My sympathies to you - my father passed away from lung cancer (a non-smoker) - he was diagnosed while we were on holiday in Aus in 2008 and died a few weeks later after we returned, very quick unfortunately. Ironically the money he left me enabled us to emigrate the following year. I would agree with the suggestion that it is not a good idea to see a parent when they are very close to death from such a condition - they will be highly sedated and it could cloud your memories of him - I did not see my father during the last few days, nor my mother who died in 2001 from ovarian cancer. I think this was a correct decision for me, I have fond memories of both when in good health. Bedside death scenes are common in films, but I suspect they are rarely beneficial in reality. Just visit now when hopefully he is managing his condition, and spend as much time as possible. You may or may not return for his funeral, you may think it inconceivable that you won't - though a friend of mine visited her dying father from Aus and did not go back for the funeral a month later (time and cost were an issue) and has no regrets - funerals are for the living not the dead after all, nd you can hopefully continue a closer relationship with other family members after his passing, with visits in either direction.

Yes - as far as I know the UK state pension is treated just like any other income for the income test (generally $288 per fortnight for a couple): https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/income-test-pensions

But they may not reduce the Aus pension at all. Your last post was misleading. It is possible to receive the UK state pension and Aus pension and have neither reduced.

Can't you receive a state UK pension and the full Aus pension as long as the former (and other income) doesn't send you through the income test?

Yes, I got Nationwide to send me another card reader, but my debit card is out of date and I can't get them to send me another as the account address is wrong - but they won't change that until I can pass security, which as I can't remember the balance, opening date etc is impossible. I suspect I'll have to wait for a UK trip at some point to sort it out. On a different issue, are the Pension Service able to send the state pension to an overseas account?

One issue I had to keep my First Direct account active was that about a year ago they changed the operation mechanism for it, which meant inputting a security code they sent: either via text, which would not reach Aus mobiles, or via letter, which meant the code had expired by the time it arrived here. I never did manage it, and though the account is still open I am unsure whether I could send money from it anymore. I also have about 500 UKP in Nationwide which is inaccessible: I cannot recall the date I opened it and other details which means I always fail the security check if I phone them...

No, mine didn't, I recall I just had to show her ID.

I would add 'Northern'... Tasmania has the highest acceptance of marriage equality of any state, for example.

At my 2014 citizenship ceremony in Geelong (officiated in full regalia by our former mayor, Mr Darren Lyons...), of the 60 new citizens I would estimate that well over 50 were from the Indian subcontinent (though could of course have been from Bangladesh, Pakistan etc).

Of course it is. In a few generations QLD will be very unpleasant to live in, though I'm sure a few old sweats (no pun intended) will claim they adore it...

Isn't that how long winter is?

I guess the agreement could be: you don't tell them you are leaving permanently, and they keep it open...

Exactly - I miss my many UK friends, but I don't even have any Aus acquaintances after 7 years here...

I rented out our UK house for 2-3 years up to 2012 and didn't declare it to anyone - not taxable in Aus owing to our residency status and rent fell below UK personal allowance. The 'agent' was just a friend of mine so he had no agent ref number - I asked HMRC but got no reply... Like the OP when we sold it its value was lower than when we left (when it was our principle residence) so no CGT at all.

At least one new city needs to be built, the cost of infrastructure accepted and provided, some government agencies moved there, and many new migrants compelled to live there for a period at least (10 years?). I believe Worksafe in VIC is moving from Melbourne to Geelong soon, this should be the norm.

My first visit. Excellent weather we had, I was in shorts every day. I am now planning to retire to Hobart...

One thing is that cruise tourists spend very little - they eat and sleep on the ship...

Not sure about that, at Manchester Airport on my last UK visit in 2011: 'Where are you coming from?' 'Australia' 'What are you doing back in this shithole for then?'...

I agree - at my Geelong citizenship ceremony last September there were about 50 of us: approx 4-5 Europeans, 1 African, and the rest from the Indian subcontinent. No-one from SE Asia I think.

When the room is the toilet, start worrying... Similarly, next time you bend to tie your shoelaces, ask yourself - is there anything else I can do while I'm down here?

Very honest post - thanks.