AoifesMum

Ok, thanks for that.

Thanks for that link, Alan. I've emailed Peter. It would be great to get the issue out there but I doubt it'll do any good - we can but try though!

Hello everyone (again). Well.... my partners employers have stated that they have no intention of making up the shortfall in my partner's wage to cover the LAFHA loss. Now, when I spoke to Rebecca last week she said that the Treasury 'expects' employers to meet this shortfall. I am waiting a return call from her. Does anyone know how this 'expectation' can be managed if the employer simply refuses to play ball? There doesn't appear to be anything the employee can actually do to compel them to meet the shortfall. As a result we will be returning home and I was also wondering what rights we have with regard to the cost implications of breaking the employment contract - any ideas? We received relocation expenses (flights and some money towards shipping costs). I know I've read on here that the employers are responsible for return flights. We'll be left hideously in debt after this and we've no jobs to return to either. Thanks for any ideas and I hope others have had more luck with renegotiations than we have!

Sorry to sound clueless but where's it being played? I'd love to go, but we're in Canberra. Also, with all this LAFHA nonsense we might actually be watching it from some St Mays Street boozer :rolleyes:

Almost certainly discriminatory. It's the lack of votes from those affected which makes it so cynical.

Hi all, Just wondered if anyone had any advice for us? A lot of posters on here seem to be knowledgable about the recent LAFHA changes. We've been trying to have discussions with my partners employers but getting nowhere. We, like many on here, will loose the LAFHA on 1st July. My partners employers have indicated that they were looking into alternatives for those affected, but they have been ignoring our calls all week and we are left wondering what to do. I have spoken to my partner's boss who was supportive and understanding of our situation, but he had incorrect info and maintained that we would not loose the LAFHA until 2014, despite me stressing I had spoken with the Treasury. I contacted Immigration who also gave incorrect advice, despite checking with a supervisor. I feel I'm going around in circles and, come July, we'll be left unable to pay our rent. Any suggestions?

Does anyone know for sure if the info Rebecca has given is actually correct? To be honest, I cannot see how you could interpret the announcement in that way from the actual statement. Also, everybody I have spoken with/read on the web has interpreted it as we did initially. I have also just spoken with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and, having consulted a supervisor, was again informed that it was only applicable to new applicants (the post 8th May crowd). Surely everybody cannot be wrong? Also, why are people giving out such incorrect information on such a serious issue?

Thank you for taking the time to post that. I spoke with Rebecca earlier and also felt rather sorry that she had been landed with such a hideous job! Good luck to everyone who'll be having conversations with their employers tomorrow.:rolleyes:

The child care is the killer for us. I have no problem at all working, I have done full time all my life, I would happily go back to 40 hours, pay my bit etc but I am unable to because we don't qualify for the subsidy. I am a social worker and we have calculated that my take home pay would be pretty much equal to paying 2x child care for five days per week.

Do let us know how you get on. My partner's firm has been saying they're looking into it but they've given us no information at all and haven't even bothered returning my call today, which has irked me somewhat! I really hope we can all sort something out. I can't see how they can legally do this, though they obviously can or wouldn't have! Anyway, good luck with it. By the way, where in Oz are you?

That's what I was thinking Ginger. Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, but to me 'everyone' means just that. Where did it say in any of the literature that it only applied to Australians? Also, there've been reports in the press about it (Ireland, for one), on various LAFHA websites and by accountants who all interpreted it as we did. Surely all these, presumably educated people can't all have misread the release? :err:

Yes, it will affect us this much unfortunately. I understand that we could have had to return to the UK had my partner lost his job, but given that the firm headhunted him and is very short of skills in his area of work, given these facts we felt fairly secure, at least for a few years. As for your other point, yes this will mean we cannot meet essential living costs. I already work from home as many hours as I can. If I was to look for work outside of home our child care costs would not be covered so we would be worse off ($100 per day per child). If we were childless or had older children then I'd just get a full time job, I've always worked full time in the UK but we had a lot of family support. Obviously this has been our own stupid fault for not realising the extortionate cost of living and also failing to have a chrystal ball when we decided to come over. I don't want to hijack this post, many other people are affected, but I have in no way overstated our situation. This, as ginger has also stated, has turned out to be the worse decision we have ever made. I understand what you're saying though and will consider our options, it just makes me feel less inclined to stay now as I feel we came here for a better life for our children, an experience for them for a few years, and we'll be worse off on every front now.

Just spoken with Rebecca and she confirmed what everyone has been posting. I can't see my partner's employers compensating us for this. So, the way life stands for us at the moment is that we return to the UK asap - will have to put all relocation costs on the credit card (unless we can claim flights from the employers). We will have no jobs to go to and with little chance of getting any in the industries we left for this 'wonderful opportunity'. If we get no work we'll have our house repossessed. Cheers Australia, what a fantastic opportunity you have given us SOOOO very glad we made the move, especially with two young children who will most likely be living in a hostel 6 months from now. I will certainly be recommending Australia to anyone thinking of moving, it's certainly been a great experience for us!

That old saying about p*ss ups and breweries certainly comes to mind. Thanks for posting ginger. I'm getting to the point that I actually feel like going home now anyway - just don't have the cash to go!

Hi Ginger, let us know how you get on. We're in exactly the same situation and I'm so angry I could scream. I can't work away from home (though I do some home-based work) as we can't afford childcare. If we lose LAFHA we will have to go home, but have no money to get home and no jobs. This absolutely stinks.

That was NOT what was announced.

Exactly, well put! I think this si the best it could get for people already claiming. PR looks very appealing after this.

I think this is fantastic news. Yes, it will be scrapped for new arrivals but, as you point out, this has been in the pipeline for some time and so I suspect most people have not based their budget on receiving it. For those of us who are already here and had no idea this was proposed until we'd up sticks to the other side of the world, at least this gives us time to make arrangements, plan etc. It's the fairest way to implement it. We were in a situation where we would have had to return to the UK had this gone ahead on 1st July (2 young children, no child care assistance = I would be paying to work). This is such a relief for us, but obviously a disapointment for people planning to come out.

Hey Bessie, I promise I'm no stalker - if you want to drop me your email (inbox me) perhaps we can have a chat (though I'm in Canberra, so less chance of meet ups!) I have been feeling exactly the same way - I would just like someone for a chat and catch up and someone who is on my wavelength, but, as others have suggested, that takes time to develop. I'm sure you'll make some good mates soon. Helen

Yes we should! Do you want to inbox me some dates and times and we can maybe meet up in the fantastic park. We have probably seen you in there already, as is the way in Canberra! I work from home so am flexible on times (apart from school runs), just let me know and I'll be there. Helen

Hi Kirsty, We'd love to meet up sometime. We've been in Canberra for 8 months (Forde) and have a six year old daughter and 18 month old son. Loving it but finding it soooo expensive - it's great the weather's been a little better too! Helen

Yes, you're right and I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the correction re the July 1st too, I didn't realise that - just don't seem to be able to get any info on it (unless I'm being pretty dim!) Cheers for the above.

Thank you! Yes, that's what we did for the 457 thinking about it. Much appreciated.

Thanks! I think that may be the way to go then. How much does it cost? Also, we're not married - but have lived together for 15 years, will that make a difference? Thanks again for the advice.

Thanks Mandy, that's a really good idea and one a friend of ours suggested. I'm not sure if we have to have been living here for two years though? I'll check it out. It sounds like a better option as I would then be entitled to some help with child care so could get some part time work. Thanks again! Helen