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Cerberus1

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  1. Cerberus1
    Further data released this week by CoreLogic, has Hobart as the best-performing property market by far over the past 12 months, with its prices surging 11.5%. It was followed, not very closely, by Canberra (+2.4pc), Brisbane (+1.2pc) and Adelaide (+0.7pc). However, Hobart's property market slowed to a crawl last month — remaining flat in July. CoreLogic have the median dwelling price (a figure which includes houses and apartments) in Hobart at $435,833.
  2. Cerberus1
    Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has warned a decline in migration levels would be “very bad news” for the Australian economy leading to fewer jobs and lower wages. Acknowledging there is currently a “backlash” running through the community over immigration levels, Mr Scott, who as the boss of Wesfarmers runs Australia’s biggest non-food retailer, said this type of backlash often occurred because governments had failed to invest in infrastructure such as housing and public services. As debate around the nation grows over the levels of migration Australia should target and any flow on affect to the economy, housing prices and congestion in our key cities, Mr Scott strongly defended Australia’s long history of migration levels and the benefits had to the domestic economy. “Australia has benefited from having the highest population growth of OECD nations for some time. That is, currently around 1.6 per cent v the average of 0.6 per cent,’’ Mr Scott said. He said it was a leading factor in Australia’s extended period of uninterrupted economic growth. “Migration has contributed to a reasonable proportion of this growth and also provided access to new skills and capabilities, additional spending and it has also contributed to the multi-cultural and diverse society that we enjoy. “This is also one of the key factors that has led to Australia having sustained economic growth over the last 27 years.” Mr Scott warned that a drop off in migration rates would damage that momentum and growth of the national economy and spill over to rising unemployment and a worsening standard of living, labelling any moves “bad news”. “If this trend was to decline, this would be very bad news for Australia’s economic growth and ultimately mean fewer jobs, lower wages and being less competitive as a nation.” However, he did concede there was a growing backlash against high migration levels, but this could be smoothed by more investment in key infrastructure projects. “Population growth, and related to this immigration, can be a sensitive subjects. Backlash often occurs in major cities that haven’t invested enough in infrastructure, housing and public services and where bottlenecks exist. This is one of the reasons why I believe infrastructure investment is so critical for our nation – both in regional areas and our major cities.”
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    When regional Australia is calling out for migrants to fill jobs and boost dwindling populations, and most new arrivals stay in the cities, how can they be enticed to settle in the regions? In the last financial year, 101,255 migrants arrived in Australia and of these, only 6,637 settled in regional Australia, according to the Department of Home Affairs. Rockhampton-based Central Queensland University academic Ataus Samad has put forward a solution. Dr Samad said a holistic approach needed to start before migrants arrived, along with more support to get them directly to regional areas. "We found that the current process of resettling people from metropolitan cities to regional areas is difficult because once people settle in big cities, they are reluctant to move," he said. Often their children have started school, and even if migrants do not have jobs, they have their local community to support them. "If we place migrants straight away in metropolitan areas within their own comfort zone, people don't have the motivation to go out and talk to others," Dr Samad said. When migrants settled into regional areas, they were motivated out of necessity to talk to their neighbours or school teachers and to better integrate, he said. This is an issue the Federal Government has grappled with, and figures from the Department of Home Affairs show about 6 per cent of skilled migrants settle in regional areas. Data from its Continuous Survey of Australia's Migrants found that of those skilled migrants who settled in regional areas, 10 per cent moved to a major city between six and 18 months after settling. Meanwhile, agribusiness employers across regional Australia face the challenge of attracting skilled labour. Dr Samad recently presented research at a Developing Northern Australia conference outlining these challenges. He found that most of the labour shortage in regional areas was met by seasonal workers under different visa conditions, but this was not necessarily good for the local economy. "They earn here and spend somewhere else because they are seasonal workers or backpackers and their motivation is different," Dr Samad said. "They work here to earn their day-to-day living and make enough money to go around Australia and visit different places but not to invest in the local community." Employers take on temporary migrants or seasonal workers because they are unable to get permanent migrants or people from their local community to employ in their industries, he said. "The solution is to utilise the migrants we already have in Australia, whether they are refugees or skilled migrants, and get them to regional areas and get them to fill the skill gap," Dr Samad said. Dr Samad said he had seen this work. He was involved in a successful program piloted by the Federal Government seven years ago, where refugees from Myanmar were resettled into the small central Queensland town of Biloela, 200km west of Rockhampton. It was part of the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), which relocated newly arrived migrants and refugees from Logan, south of Brisbane, where there were high levels of unemployment. Dr Samad said one of the program's successes was the fact a number of families from the same ethnic background moved to the town. He is working with CQ University and Charles Sturt University to identify the minimum of number of people needed to settle in a regional area to meet that critical mass. "There are successful resettlement programs in regional areas, not only in Queensland, but in NSW, Victoria and other places in Australia," Dr Samad said. Dr Samad said any resettlement also had to be led locally. "They know their area best, and my personal view is that we need to give the entire process of resettlement to local community and local government," he said. Dr Samad also noted there was a general perception that regional communities were not welcoming to migrants, and that some communities had not been exposed to migrants. "Although we have some shocking statistics that our regional areas are not supportive of migrants in their community, my experience living in a regional area is people are very welcoming and supportive, provided we consult them," he said. "We need people to bridge this fear and as soon as this fear is bridged, regional communities are really welcoming." On the other hand, many migrants had misconceptions of what life in regional Australia was like and many had the perception it was a wild area. Dr Samad said although there was a lot of encouragement from the Federal Government with visa categories for settlement in regional areas, there was a mismatch between the regional settlement of skilled migrants and the actual employment of skilled migrants. "We need to start the process from the very beginning — the moment we select which refugees we accept into Australia, where do we resettle them has to come under a holistic plan," he said. Full article @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-30/enticing-migrants-to-the-regions-and-out-of-cities/10040146
  4. Cerberus1
    If you're moving to Australia and haven't decided where to want to live yet, it may be worthwhile keeping an eye on CommSec's 'State of the States' reports. The quarterly report attempts to find out how Australia’s states and territories are performing by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth retail spending equipment investment unemployment construction work done population growth housing finance dwelling commencements. Just as the Reserve Bank uses long-term averages to determine the level of “normal” interest rates; CommSec do the same with the economic indicators. For each state and territory, latest readings for the key indicators were compared with decade averages – that is, against the “normal” performance. The latest State of the States report also includes a section comparing annual growth rates for the eight key indicators across the states and territories as well as Australia as a whole. This enables another point of comparison – in terms of economic momentum. FIRST - Victoria SECOND - NSW THIRD - Australian Capital Territory FOURTH - Tasmania FIFTH - Queensland SIXTH - South Australia SEVENTH - Northern Territory EIGHTH - Western Australia Victoria is now at the top of the economic performance rankings (For the first time since Commsec introduced the 'State of the States' economic performance rankings). Victoria ranks first on economic growth, dwelling starts and construction work done. NSW is second on the overall economic performance rankings but still holds top spot for retail spending and the relative performance on unemployment. The ACT has held on to third spot on the rankings. The ACT is top-ranked on relative housing finance and equipment spending and second-ranked on population growth and unemployment. Tasmania has held on to fourth position on the economic performance rankings and it can be broadly grouped with the ACT. Tasmania is ranked first on the relative position on population growth, a position that is driving strength in home building. Queensland is now in fifth position on the performance rankings ahead of South Australia but there is little to separate the two economies. Queensland ranks fourth on two indicators and fifth on four indicators South Australiais now in sixth position. But unemployment is the lowest in 5½ years in trend terms. The Northern Territory retains its seventh position on the economic performance rankings and can be broadly grouped with Western Australia. Both are facing challenges with the transition of resource projects moving from the production to the export phase. The Northern Territory is third-ranked on construction work done and economic growth. But it lags all other states and territories on four of the indicators. The good news is that employment is growing again in annual terms. Western Australia is seventh on three indicators and lags other economies on three indicators. But equipment spending is now the highest in just over three years.
  5. Cerberus1
    James Pearson, head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has has sounded the alarm over the “mischievous” immigration debate that has escalated in the lead-up to the Super Saturday by-elections, accusing both Labor and the Coalition of misrepresenting figures. Both parties have ramped up their rhetoric on the hot-button issue of immigration in recent weeks, ahead of five key by-elections on 28 July. “There are lies, damn lies and statistics and I'm sorry to say that the numbers being bandied about in this debate are being bandied about in the most misleading way.” The government was last week spruiking the latest permanent migration numbers - which fell to the lowest level in 10 years - as an endorsement of tougher vetting procedures that cut down on “fraudulent applications”. In response, Labor blasted the government for allowing around 1.6 million people to live in Australia on temporary visas that included the right to work. “What has become an absolute problem has been the explosion, the misuse and abuse, of issuing of temporary work visas,” shadow minister for employment Brendan O’Connor told ABC Radio. “If you want to know why unemployment amongst young people is so high compared to other OECD countries, just look at the amount of visas being issued.” Mr Pearson said the claims and counter-claims were disappointing and confusing to voters and marked an end to many years of relative bipartisanship on the skilled migration program. “I regret the fact that what for so long was strong, bipartisan support for a strong, well-managed migration program … seems to have been put to one side,” he said. Treasurer Scott Morrison hit back at Labor’s claims about the number of temporary workers last week. “Bill Shorten needs to check his facts. I mean, this bloke lies like he has breakfast in the morning. The number of people here on temporary skilled visas, here right now, is 20 per cent less than it was when Labor left office.” The reason for the discrepancy is Labor is counting all temporary visa holders with any right to work, including international students, New Zealanders on special visas, and backpackers, Mr Pearson said. Those numbers do add to around 1.6 million, but he said the figure was misleading. “To suggest for a moment that all of those people are working, let alone working full time, is wrong, because many of them are not,” he said. Working holidaymakers have caps on how much work they can do in Australia, while international students are also limited to 40 hours per fortnight. Carla Wilshire of the Migration Council said Labor was taking a “huge cross-section of different visa categories” and combining them to get a large figure. She too has concerns about the political rhetoric in the immigration debate. “I think we need to be very careful. The Australian economy very much relies on a certain level of migration flowing through,” Ms Wilshire said. Labor claims the international student issue is exacerbated by students who breach their work limits, often under pressure from employers. “You have temporary visas being issued as student visas, where the applicant is not primarily studying,” Mr O’Connor said. The Migration Council said while there were some compliance issues with students, the level of such issues was not “particularly high”. Ms Wilshire said the recent linking of immigration data with Australian Tax Office records had improved compliance.
  6. Cerberus1
    Have a look at Worse case scenario, you'd need to use a set top box with them. You can pick up a set top box at somewhere like JBHIFI for around $50.
  7. Cerberus1
    More than half of long term migrants own a home in Australia, but new data shows it has become harder for them to break into the property market. About 54% of permanent migrants who arrived in Australia in or after 2000 are homeowners, according to Census data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/mediareleasesbyCatalogue/9E1D0D5CF2DD8892CA2582CD00153953?OpenDocument “Over half of permanent migrants are either buying or own a home outright, which is slightly less than the national average which sits at 65.5 per cent,” McCrindle social researcher Geoff Brailey said. “The trends show migrants are most likely to come from India, then China, where homeownership in Australia is seen as very desirable,” he said. “As people are arriving here, they are doing those hard years of saving to get into the market.” While the number of new migrants has increased, the proportion of them able to realise the Great Australian Dream has fallen as house prices soared. “Home ownership rates amongst recent migrants have fallen over the five years to the 2016 Census, as they have for Australians more broadly,” said ABS director of migration statistics Myles Burleigh. About 35 per cent of migrants who arrived in Australia over the five-year period snapped up property, down from about 40 per cent over the same period before the 2011 Census. While NSW has the highest intake of migrants, it had the second lowest homeownership rate after the Northern Territory, at 49.5 per cent and 37.4 per cent, respectively. While almost 60 per cent of those who entered Australia on a family or skilled visa secured a home, humanitarian migrants were more likely to rent, with fewer than one-third buying property. Migrants in Victoria were the second most likely to own a home, after those in Western Australia, with homeownership rates respectively at 56 and 62 per cent. “Western Australia does stand out as having a higher rate of homeownership compared to the other states, perhaps because migrants there are more likely to have arrived on a skilled visa,” Mr Burleigh said. Bendan Coates, research fellow at The Grattan Institute, said migrants who arrived via skilled and family streams tended to have relatively higher incomes and were able to realise their housing aspirations sooner. “The humanitarian stream by its very nature is very different,” said Mr Coates. “They tend to have fled strife, have lower incomes and so they need more support. That’s part and parcel of the obligations Australia has to humanitarian migrants.” Mr Burleigh said Greater Sydney, which has the highest median house price in the country at $1,150,357, also had a greater proportion of migrants leave. “Sydney has quite large [migrant population] outflows,” he said. “It’s the first place a lot of migrants go when they arrive, so more people move from Sydney.” Mr Coates said while migration did put upward pressure on property prices and rents, due to increased demand, this would not be a problem if enough homes were built. “The evidence over the last decade is that we’ve struggled to do that. It is likely the rate of migration has pushed up house prices and rents. To a degree it’s adding housing affordability pressures in Australia,” said Mr Coates. “We estimate you need 450 to 550 new homes for every 1000 new residents in Australia. NSW is only just meeting that level, it’s producing just over 500 homes per 1000 residents,” he added. Chief executive of Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre Kamalle Dabboussy said the figures were a strong indicator of migrants’ contribution to the economy. “If you solely measure what they provide in the first few years after their arrivals, you sell the picture short” he said. “Migrants sacrifice a lot in the short term for the long term.” He noted it often only took one family member with some wealth to get a mortgage and leverage their equity amongst the family for generations to come. “The aspiration is to work, buy a house and provide a better future for their family,” he said. Overall, 42 per cent of migrants were renting in 2016, in comparison to 30.9 per cent of the wider population.
  8. Cerberus1
    Have a look at
  9. Cerberus1
    Citizenship Minister, Alan Tudge has used a speech to UK leaders in London to flag a further tightening of visas that grant permanent residency in Australia, claiming too many are granted to migrants before they ever step foot in the country. Australia accepted around 162,000 permanent migrants last year – well below the annual cap of 190,000 places and the lowest intake in 10 years. The Turnbull government has attributed the drop to tougher vetting procedures at the Department of Home Affairs, although a former Immigration official has questioned the explanation. The minister said about half of the stream had visas granted after years in Australia on temporary visas, but the other half were “granted full permanent residency before ever stepping foot in Australia”. “This is less ideal, and something that requires further consideration,”. The permanent migration stream is around two-thirds skilled visas and one-third family visas for their children, parents and spouses.Mr Tudge said offshore applicants were a “challenge” because “information about individuals is sometimes difficult to obtain from abroad”. Migrants are already required to sign a values statement when they become Australian citizens, but the Turnbull government has long advocated a stricter approach. The government’s controversial citizenship reforms, which were blocked last year in the Senate, would have introduced a new test on Australian values as well as a tougher English exam. But senior Coalition ministers have consistently promised another attempt at the reforms in 2018. Earlier this month, Mr Tudge suggested a new spoken English test might be developed for all migrants seeking permanent residency, possibly including refugees, instead of just citizens. “We place an emphasis on Australian values as the glue that holds the nation together,” Mr Tudge said on Thursday. “We do this through requiring people to sign a values statement before coming into Australia, satisfy a citizenship test and pledge allegiance before becoming a citizen. “The weakness of this, however, is that we presently have few mechanisms to assess people against their signed statement.” Mr Tudge did not comment on what mechanisms might be considered. “We need muscular ongoing promotion of our values: of freedom of speech and worship, equality between sexes, democracy and the rule of law, a fair go for all, the taking of individual responsibility,” he said. The government’s first attempt at sweeping citizenship reforms were blocked by Labor, the Greens and key crossbenchers on the now-rebranded Nick Xenophon Team. Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese criticised Mr Tudge for going overseas and “talking our country down”, referring to the minister’s comments on how migrants were not integrating to broader society as well as they once did. “The fact is we have an incredibly successful multicultural nation,” he said.
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    NEW figures have revealed where Australia’s two million permanent migrants have come from since 2000. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released new data that identifies India, England and China as some of the top birth countries of the country’s migrants. There were about 2.2 million permanent migrants in Australia in 2016, who arrived between January 1, 2000, and August 9, 2016, according to the 2016 Australian Census and Migrants Integrated Dataset. The report links data gathered from the 2016 Census and from the Department of Social Services. It found 58 per cent (1.2 million people) had been granted a skilled visa, 32 per cent (683,603) entered via the family stream and just 10 per cent (214,656 people) were on humanitarian visas. The data also revealed where the migrants were coming from. For those coming to Australia on the skilled visa, the top country of birth was India (19 per cent), followed by England and China. When it comes to family migrants, the top country of birth was China (14 per cent), then England and India. The figures also revealed that about 54 per cent of permanent migrants aged 15 years and older, were buying or owned their own home. Migrants in the family stream were the most likely to own their home outright (14 per cent), followed by skilled migrants (8 per cent). The data comes as migration numbers in Australia hit a 10-year low. Liberal senator Dean Smith this week called for a review into Australia’s population policy as the nation approached 25 million residents. But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia’s immigration and population growth was constantly under review. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said last week that the annual intake of permanent migrants fell by 20,000 last year to 162,000, with both skilled and family visas down. Immigration remains a talking point in Australia, amid concern about jobs and overcrowding in major cities.
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    One in 10 skilled migrants who move to regional Australia move to a city within 18 months, according to new data from the Department of Home Affairs. The data was provided to SBS News in response to questions raised in a recent Senate Estimates hearing. It was prompted by the Turnbull government announcing in May it was working on changes to regional sponsorship visas in a bid to force skilled migrants to stay. The department’s Continuous Survey of Australian Migrants (CSAM) revealed of the six per cent of skilled migrants who settled in a regional area, 10 per cent moved to a major city between six and 18 months later. Australia brought in 4,766 skilled workers to regional areas in 2016-17 but almost half of them settled in Perth. The government removed Perth as a “regional” destination in November. Darwin, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart remain eligible for the regional visa. Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government was “working on” options to improve retention of talented migrants in the regions. Australia has a number of visa programs designed to bring migrants to the bush, including the Skilled Regional (887) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187). The government is trying to find ways to prevent the drain to the cities without impinging on the right to freedom of movement. In May, Nationals MP David Gillespie told SBS News many regional employers were left with a “sour taste” when migrants skipped town to pursue opportunities in the cities. Dr Gillespie would not comment on the government's legal options but raised the example of overseas doctors, who often came on visas that linked their Medicare billing to a regional centre for up to 10 years. Last week, the government released its final migration statistics for the last financial year. Permanent skilled and family migration fell by 20,000 places to its lowest level in a decade, prompting an angry response from employer groups. James Pearson, head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the regions would suffer from the reduction. “This is a real crisis,” Mr Pearson told SBS News. “Politicians have failed to plan properly for the population growth in Sydney and Melbourne, and regional Australia is now paying the price because of this cutback in our skilled migration by stealth.”
  13. Cerberus1
    Australia is overtaking the UK as the world's second biggest destination for international students, says research from University College London. Researchers at UCL's Centre for Global Higher Education say the UK is being pushed into third place behind the United States and Australia. Australia has been rapidly expanding its international student numbers. The British Council says it shows the UK needs to "look again" at its policies towards overseas students. An analysis this year found that overseas students added £20bn to the UK's economy - and universities in the UK have warned that immigration rules after Brexit will need to be more welcoming for students. The UCL study has tracked the latest movements in international students and report author Professor Simon Marginson says Australia is moving ahead of the UK. He warns that Canada is also catching up in taking a growing slice of the lucrative overseas student market. Three years ago the UK was recruiting around 130,000 more overseas students than Australia, says Prof Marginson, who is also co-chair of the Higher Education Commission's current inquiry into international students. But he says successive years of Australia having increases of 12% to 14% in overseas students have seen it catch up and overtake the UK, which has been growing much more slowly. Official student figures for 2018 from the UN's education agency, Unesco, will not be published until after the end of this year. But the UCL researchers are "certain" that Australia is on the verge of moving ahead of the UK in overseas students and this "may have already happened". "UK higher education is still highly valued internationally, but the government has held down the growth of international student numbers for five years, by limiting new student numbers and post-study work visas," says Prof Marginson. "Meanwhile, competitor nations are strongly promoting their international education." Australia has been marketing itself as an English-speaking country with high-performing universities, with an attractive climate and a welcoming culture for overseas students. This year's Best Student Cities rankings put Melbourne and Sydney in the top 10 - although London was the highest ranked of all. Australia has succeeded in attracting students from outside Europe, particularly from China. The research from UCL warns that the UK's future intake of international students will depend on keeping its appeal for European students. Last week, the government set out post-Brexit plans that would keep open the door to visa-free travel for European Union students coming to UK universities. But there was no detail on whether EU students would have to pay full international fees. Universities in the UK have been campaigning for overseas students to be taken out of net migration figures. A spokeswoman for the British Council said that international students are "an immense source of long-term influence and soft power for the UK". She said the UK was competing with countries with "welcoming visa policies" and "comprehensive international education strategies". With the approach of Brexit, she said "it has never been more important to reinforce and open up international channels for the UK".
  14. Cerberus1
    You are receiving this newsletter because you opted in at our website: www.pomsinoz.com Wednesday 11th July, Issue # 79 Welcome to the July 2018 Pomsinoz Newsletter A warm welcome to everyone who's registered on the forum since our last newsletter. If you've only recently joined www.pominoz.com and haven't made a post yet, then why not stop by and say hello. This month, we've got a bumper issue, with lots of visa news to cover. All the Best, Robert - Admin Visa Fee Increases On the 01st of this month, Department of Immigration Visa application fees increased for a number of visas. In general, the visa application fees have been increased in line with CPI. Changes for some common visa types are below: Discuss visas and migration on the forum It's Tax Return Time! Alan’s Top 12 Tips for Your 2018 Tax Returns As we tick over into the new Australian tax year your thoughts might start turning to the completion of your 2018 Australian tax return. At least they do in the minds of registered tax agents! Here are Alan's 12 top tips for those of you who have UK and Australian tax returns to prepare for 2018. They should be particularly helpful for those of you who moved to Australia for the first time in the year to 30 June 2018, although others who arrived earlier may find the list useful. www.collettandco.com/blog/alans-top-12-tips-for-2018-tax-returns/ Special Visas for Regions with skill shortages Australian regions with niche skills shortages are being earmarked for "boutique" visa deals. Northern Queensland and the Goldfields in Western Australia’s southeast are two regions most likely to benefit within months. “In north Queensland, they've got a thriving tourism industry and they've got requirements for things like Chinese-speaking scuba diving instructors," said Mr Tudge. “In the Goldfields, they've got a shortage of drillers. They've got a shortage of people who can work on some of the nearby farms and we want to be able to ensure that those skills gaps can be met so that those businesses can continue to grow." The visa deals for those regions are expected to be in place by the end of the year. Which other areas may benefit and how many visas may be available has not been confirmed. Boutique arrangements are granted at the government’s discretion when there are vacancies for niche positions that cannot be filled locally and when that particular job does not fall within the Skills Shortage List of more than 600 occupations eligible for skilled visa categories. Read Full article here Sending money to the UK Whether you’ve moved to Australia for good, or are working Down Under and plan to head back to Blighty one day, you may still need to transfer funds to the UK. This could be to transfer rental income from a property, or it might be to maintain a home in the UK or send money to a child or grandchild studying in the UK. Whatever your reason for sending money back to the UK, using a foreign exchange specialist rather than your high street bank could make a significant difference to the amount of sterling that arrives in your account. This is not only because you will have the benefit of great exchange rates and low transfer fees, but also you will be provided with expert market guidance and specialist services to help you make the most of your money. A specialist can talk you through the transfer process and their in-depth market knowledge can help you mitigate the risk of the unpredictable foreign exchange market and potentially protect against rate volatility. Another aspect to consider, particularly if you’re making regular payments to and from the UK, is how the transfers take place. As well as dealing with foreign exchange specialists over the phone, you should be able to make transfers online and even set up automated regular payments to cover, for example, a mortgage payment or property maintenance costs. Once you understand your alternatives, it becomes much easier to make the most of your money when repatriating funds. moneycorp is a foreign exchange specialist company, offering great rates and a range of services delivered online and over the phone. Get started with moneycorp It's free to register for a moneycorp account and you can do this online by clicking here It only takes a few minutes to register – you can then start saving money on your overseas currency transfers. Once registered, you will be assigned an Account Manager who will be your main point of contact and they can provide quotes and information on the Australian dollar as and when you need it. You can also read more information here on the Poms in Oz currency page: www.moneycorp.com/uk/campaigns/partners/pio/ Moneycorp is a reference to TTT Moneycorp Pty Limited which is registered in Australia (business number 116612858). Its principal place of business is Level 15 Exchange Tower, 2 The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000, Australia. TTT Moneycorp Pty Limited is authorised to deal in foreign exchange contracts and buy/sell quotes to retail and wholesale clients as an Authorised Representative (reference number 445555) of Rochford Capital Pty Limited (AFSL License No. 361276). Govt backflip - Employers can satisfy testing by advertising the vacancy on LinkedIn Foreign workers can be brought into Australia on the new Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) as long as employers tried to hire Aussies first … on LinkedIn. In June, the Government tweaked its rules around the new 457, now dubbed the "Temporary Skill Shortage" visa, reversing an earlier decision to reject ads on the social network as part of labour market testing. This testing — where employers are required to demonstrate they advertised locally for jobs — is designed to ensure Australians are given priority before overseas workers are hired. The new rules mean an employer can satisfy testing by advertising in two places — for example on the Government job portal Jobactive and LinkedIn. Read Full article here What's HOT on the forum right now? The current hot 5 topics on the forum are: I want to move back to the UK, fiancé doesn't SkillSelect ENS 186 Timeline The Parent Visa Discussion topic Brexit Discussion 187 Visa Processing Time Click on the links above to participate and have your say Parliamentary inquiry into dodgy migration agents begins Unscrupulous operators who rip off those who hope to live, work or study in Australia are being scrutinised by a parliamentary inquiry which opened in Canberra at the end of June. The inquiry into migration agents follows a joint SBS-Fairfax investigation that revealed victims were losing tens of thousands of dollars after falling prey to false promises by agents and others operating in the sector. It is against the law for education agents to offer migration advice unless they are registered as migration agents, but the Department of Home Affairs said it had received anecdotal evidence that some were doing so. The inquiry also comes off the back of a growing number of complaints in the sector. According to Department of Home Affairs figures, there were 800 complaints against registered migration agents last year - up from just over 600 in 2014. The department told the inquiry on Wednesday there was a real threat posed by corrupt or unregistered migration agents, including organised crime groups taking advantage of flaws in the current system. The department said changes to information and evidence-sharing powers needed to be made, as the current arrangement was a “significant impediment” to investigating fraudulent behaviour by registered and unregistered migration agents. University of Sydney law professor Mary Crock, who has specialised in immigration law for over three decades, said most registered migration agents are doing the right thing by their clients. She suggested the increasingly “draconian” immigration legal system in Australia may be the reason behind the rising number of complaints. “I suspect dissatisfactions with migration outcomes are one of the reasons you’ve got an increasing number of complaints. I don’t see that there is a drop in the quality of migration agents,” she said. Ms Crock said the issue of education providers offering de facto immigration advice was a serious issue with ramifications for potential students. “They are telling them ‘if you do this course you will able to get X visa or Y visa’, so the students go and pay a lot of money up front and in the end are very disappointed,” she said. Discuss visas and migration on the forum Forum News More Articles added If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out our articles section at: www.pomsinoz.com/articles.html We've been busy adding more suburb guides, real-life migration stories, salary guides and much more! ..and finally we continue our light-hearted / irreverent look at the differences between the UK and Australia. This month - the beach. www.pomsinoz.com | admin@pomsinoz.com Copyright © 2018 Australia Migration Forums
  15. Cerberus1
    Australian regions with niche skills shortages are being earmarked for "boutique" visa deals. There are currently 322 special labour agreements in place with certain businesses and industries across the country, but the Minister for Citizenship Alan Tudge has said he wants to go further and do deals based on geographical location. Northern Queensland and the Goldfields in Western Australia’s southeast are two regions most likely to benefit within months. “In north Queensland, they've got a thriving tourism industry and they've got requirements for things like Chinese-speaking scuba diving instructors," said Mr Tudge. “In the Goldfields, they've got a shortage of drillers. They've got a shortage of people who can work on some of the nearby farms and we want to be able to ensure that those skills gaps can be met so that those businesses can continue to grow." The visa deals for those regions are expected to be in place by the end of the year. Which other areas may benefit and how many visas may be available has not been confirmed. Boutique arrangements are granted at the government’s discretion when there are vacancies for niche positions that cannot be filled locally and when that particular job does not fall within the Skills Shortage List of more than 600 occupations eligible for skilled visa categories. Companies must demonstrate they are unable to find local workers by advertising nationally first. In the majority of cases, visa holders are given a pathway to permanent residency. "These boutique arrangements which we can enter into allow us to have very personalised arrangements for particular companies but the essence is still the same: A, we're prioritising Australians first and the company has to demonstrate that there's no Australian available. B, they still need to satisfy the criteria which will be set out in the agreement," Mr Tudge said. “Every agreement is unique and is boutique and it's tailored specifically for the company or for the region taking into account the particular skills shortages which they have and the requirements which they need.” Source: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/exclusive-special-visas-offered-to-regions-with-skill-shortages
  16. Cerberus1
    Hobart is losing grip of its title as Australia’s most affordable city, with the average house price now on par with Adelaide, according to research. The revelation was made by property website realestate.com.au's outlook report for the April quarter. Hobart and the surrounding areas dominate the list of Australia's 10 most sought-after suburbs, with Battery Point, North Hobart, Richmond and inner Hobart all featuring. Hobart's average house price for the April quarter was $470,000, up 19 per cent on the same time last year and by far the biggest increase of any other capital city. Report author and realestate.com chief economist Nerida Conisbee described Tasmania as "booming". "Hobart continues to be red hot," she said. "Tasmania is the hottest market at the moment in Australia, we've certainly never seen this surge in activity,'' she said. "Hobart's so strong at the moment that we are now expecting the median house price for Hobart to overtake the median house price for Adelaide. "We can really see that Melbourne is the number one audience for Hobart property and has a strong interest in it. "When we have a look at the top interstate destinations people from Melbourne are looking at, the number one is Sandy Bay." The average Hobart property received 10,000 hits on realestate.com, five times more than in since 2013 and double the national average view per property. Jobs growth and very little housing development were the two factors pushing up prices, according to the report. "While property investors are likely to be a key factor in the price increases, strong growth in rental demand suggests that the market is being supported by people needing a place to live," it said. The report showed that in the past 12 months, there had been an increase of almost 50 per cent in online views of properties in Launceston and Devonport. "What we are seeing is a pretty strong ripple effect in terms of demand in Hobart extending to other parts of the state." Ms Conisbee said. The report said Launceston had seen the strongest price growth of any local government area in Australia in the past 12 months. And according to the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT), 2017 was Launceston's best year in the last decade. REIT president Tony Collidge said the report reflected Hobart's market, which is the strongest he has seen in his 26-year real-estate career. "We're certainly getting multiple offers, we're getting upwards of 30 to 40 enquiries per property and its a very, very buoyant marketplace," he said. "It's really hard to try and price property at the moment because of the strong demand that's out there. "You put a property on the market for $500,000 and the next thing you're hearing its sold for $575,000, its sold for $550,000." Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-07/demand-for-real-estate-in-hobart-continues-to-grow/9951424
  17. Cerberus1
    Foreign workers can be brought into Australia on the new Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) as long as employers tried to hire Aussies first … on LinkedIn. In June, the Government tweaked its rules around the new 457, now dubbed the "Temporary Skill Shortage" visa, reversing an earlier decision to reject ads on the social network as part of labour market testing. This testing — where employers are required to demonstrate they advertised locally for jobs — is designed to ensure Australians are given priority before overseas workers are hired. At the end of 2017, 75,610 overseas workers were in Australia on a 457 temporary work visa. The new rules mean an employer can satisfy testing by advertising in two places — for example on the Government job portal Jobactive and LinkedIn. A three-week LinkedIn campaign costs approximately $500, while advertising on Jobactive is free. 'Backflip' in latest change Labor immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said this was another "backflip" from the Government and proof it "botched" changes to Australia's skilled migration program. He said Labor would introduce an independent skills assessment body if Labor won Government that would determine "genuine" skills need. The Government announced major changes to the 457 program last year, but since then has made several tweaks following a backlash from migrants and businesses. The changes have lead to a reduction in 457 visas. 25,000 grants to foreign workers were made in the year to March compared with 46,000 in 2016-17. A spokeswoman for Alan Tudge, the minister responsible for the program, declined to provide comment on the LinkedIn tweak, but emphasised that the rules were designed to strike an appropriate balance between prioritising Australian workers and recognising industry recruitment practices. Social media advertisements had been accepted in the past but the old requirements were less prescriptive. In March, rules were introduced that specifically required evidence of two advertisements with national reach booked within the previous 12 months. The changes barred Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram as well as general classifieds sites like Gumtree. As of June, LinkedIn ads are acceptable again and the window of the ads was reduced to six months.
  18. Cerberus1
    There's a minor bug (which a support call has been logged for) which is causing the view count not to increase. All threads are still visible of course and can be replied to as normal.
  19. Cerberus1
    South Australia only charge the Visa student contribution fee if you're on a 457 or 482 visa (in which case it's $5,200 for each primary school student & $6,200 for each secondary school student). The 489 visa is viewed more as a precursor to PR and as such, you won't pay any fees (aside from the contributions which every school charges, which normally are a couple of hundred dollars a term). Yes, you'll be able to enroll your children in a public school
  20. Cerberus1
    That's because the Private Message Facility only becomes available when you've made a certain number of posts on the forum. As you've elected to use a new account, you don't have that facility yet.
  21. Cerberus1
    I send a 20kg parcel a few times a year from Uk to Aus. I use https://www.parcelmonkey.co.uk/ and it usually costs around the £100 mark. Usually takes 5-7 days to arrive.
  22. Cerberus1
    As at 31/03/2018 The number of people in Australia on Temporary Resident (Skilled) Visas is 84,676 (Dept of Home Affairs stats)
  23. Cerberus1
    Gondor on his morning walk
  24. Cerberus1
    Local dam this morning. Nice and crisp, around 8c
  25. Cerberus1
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