RAS

Hi, a good saying to remember when "bartering" is " if your first offer does not embarrass you, it is not low enough". When buying our house my first offer was $60,000 less than the advertised price, the price was just more than the house you are looking at. We ended up $45,000 less than asking. Some people are desperate to sell and some are not, we were in a good position, had six months to run on a rental,nwhich wasn't expensive, but we were happy to stay there if things didn't work out. You can always up your offer but not very often will you get away with dropping your offer. Good luck.

JetBlast, what an absolutely splendid reply. RAS.

I'm using them at the moment. I got a better exchange rate than with moneycorp. No problems.

What a brilliant reply Petals.

Hi, you cannot drive an HGV in Australia on a foreign licence. Your friend will have to take an Australian HGV test, it costs roughly $1500 for a two day course, you can apply to go straight to a semi licence and it is up to the state if they let you do that depending on experience. Victoria let me do it once I proved I have been driving HGVs in Britain for a couple of years. A lot of the semi trucks here are double de-clutch which is what I spent most of my time learning. The test it's self is probably easier than in Britain but I found the the clutch malarky a pain in the bum and had to spend an extra $500 for another half day to do the test. RAS.

If class 1 was the semi-articulated then the equivalent is a semi licence over here. Here there is light rigid, medium rigid, heavy rigid, semi and then B-double. RAS.

In Victoria you can get your car and motorbike licence straight away without tests, providing they are on your British licence. HGV is different. You can apply to Vic Roads if you have had a HGV in the UK for dispensation to take a HC ( artic ) test. If they say no you will be able to do the heavy rigid test. I have just applied for dispensation to do the HC test without doing the HR test. I have sent copies of my British licence, Victoria licence, a letter from my boss in UK and am just waiting on the outcome.

Unfortunately not. Car and motorbike are okgenerally but not a truck licence. RAS

Gidza, the TV will work if you change the plug and get a set top box or satellite. Somebody on anther thread has said if you tune the TV, depending on make, to German frequency it will work. If the TV needs replacing why not get one in Australia. Some DVD players are multi regional so should play all or most DVDs, we took ours but bought another one while in Australia. RAS.

You will need to change the plug or get an adaptor. You will also need a digital box ( cheap ) or Foxtel as you say. We took ours with no problems. RAS

Anabel, I went with NAB, set the account up while in the UK, picked the card and pin up at a prearranged bank when I got to Australia. I have had no problems with them at all and everything was very easy to arrange. I ended up with a mortgage and credit card from them. Good luck on your move.

My apologies FranG. I did not think about the tone of my reply. I personally think it is a good wage and you should have no problems, people go over earning a lot less with a bigger family. It is obviously a massive step for anybody. Good luck with your move, hopefully it will all work out for you and your family. RAS

I can't possibly know which is why it is just my opinion on what information was disclosed.

But surely that is what the OP asked. Would they be comfortable. I replied, sarcastically for which I apologise, that yes they would be comfortable on that wage and on the information provided. If they didn't want opinions surely they wouldn't ask. If they forgot to say they wanted two Porsche 911s on the drive, had a $10,000 a month crack habit then my opinion may change. But working with what was asked then yes they would be comfortable.

I don't think people get "upset" with people earning more than them, I know I don't. I say good luck to people who work hard or have had a bit of luck financially. I find it hard to believe that somebody who earns $154-185k, top 20% of earners or 3x average wage ( if my memory is correct ) is not sure if they can live comfortabley. If not, there is not a lot of hope for the rest of us. I understand about location, cars etc but generally on that amount of money surely you must have a comfortable life.

So your answer would be no then?

I'll bite. So you are not sure if two adults and a baby can live comfortably on 154k, possibly 184k, a year?

Hi, we put a 30% deposit down on our house, had proof of earnings and proof of out goings and that seemed to be enough. Our mortgage is with the NAB and we got it without any problems. We didn't need proof of previous mortgage from the UK or anything like it. Good luck. RAS

Hi, it all depends on your circumstances, how long you are going for, buying a house or renting, intending to live there permenantely, how much money you have available, are you working or not working, what state is the stuff in that you own etc etc. We moved permenantely and brought everything we owned that was in good condition and we have no regrets. RAS

Hi, you don't have to do a driving test, you just produce your British one and the Australian licence is given. I'm not sure when you have to change it by, my wife and I changed it at the earliest opportunity. RAS.

Possibly the reason why you find it hard to meet people if that is your attitude.

I'm not sure if its arresting you ( as I put in my original post ) but they can detain you to find out who you are, and I agree in this case the fine is a bit OTT. RAS

Yes. If not for anybody to get away with any offence they can do what they want, don't give their name and the police are powerless. Of course they can drag you to the station.

In the UK if you refused to give your name or prove who you were to the satisfaction of the police they can take you to the police station until they are satisfied who you are. Not sure if it is being arrested but they certainly have the power to lift you. I would imagine it is the same in Australia. RAS

I'm sat at the moment in our house just outside Sale on fire watch. When I got up this morning the house was covered in leaves blowing in from the fires, none of it burning thank goodness. The wind has picked up but changed direction away from us a short time ago. Stay safe everybody.