Maggie2012

well, I was just sent this link and I thought I'd share it. Interesting numbers and graphs that may tell you something https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_in_Australia

Perhaps living in Canberra has one advantage, that news filter out. For an everyday Joe it is a bad place to be and especially for those who see the massive bureaucracy in play. Australians really do not know how government workers and their friends live here "la vida loca". Good jobs stay withing friends and family. But that is besides the point. You have to be stupid to fall into the fake ads (like the open trade agreement with China is good for us). So you wonder what is the underlying mission of the big players (often rich politicians wanting to get even richer). You see skilled industries dying off: automobile industry.....gone machining and metalworking...gone, dying steel industry..dying, mills are closing bodybuilding....gone, dying defense spending..filling and supporting the growth of foreign industries (like the Japanese will build the next submarines for Australia) farming and agriculture..dying because of cheap imports and land used for other purposes (fertile lands sold to Chinese mining companies who destroy the land, take the resources and leave environmental catastrophes behind) textile and supporting industries..gone (now everything is made in Pakistan) mining...slowing (years of undervalued/undersold resources and foreign ownership/ management are finally hitting home) Are the politicians deliberately killing off skilled work to mass allow influx of immigrants? Or is there something even more sinister in play? What do you think?

You can only see how non-democratic the English system is if you have lived in the US and returned home. It is a Feudal system under a democratic blanket, rooted in the middle ages. Same goes for the Australian system, which is stuck halfway between the English and the US form of democracy. All three of these need an overhaul, but because politics is always influenced by money (you can argue as much as you want that it is not) that will not happen any soon. Unfortunately as humans we are built to wage war and although you may like the hippie idea of a peaceful society, our very own human nature will never allow us to achieve that. Spending moneys on defense is an essential evil

you better not do that coz you'll be deported ASAP :-)

I do not think the UN has any business dictating any country what their border policy is. Strip it down, this is not a refugee issue but a border control issue. Especially, if the UN is made of countries like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran all those countries that to this date are committing far worse atrocities. The US immigration detention centers are not any better than the Australians and their deportation policies even worse. But who dares to condemn the US in the UN? If you deny the fact that in this day and age people from poorer countries will do anything by any means to try to get to countries to get a better life (and I do not blame them and I thank god that I was born into the Western World), than you do not know better. The fact is, that majority of people claiming refugee status are only economical migrants, who were coached by the smugglers "what to claim and say". It is only logical to hold them until their claims can be verified. That is where the detention centre comes in play. Why should you let someone in the country and let them integrate into society when you don not know WHO they are. Think of detention centres as council housing. You hand over a property and the migrants choose either to destroy it or keep it up. Remember, they are not paying for anything, get provided food and shelter in a campground setting. Remember, our very own homeless people have it much worse. Now, if you destroy your own living facilities, why should the Australian government and you the Taxpayer continuously foot the bill for repairs and upgrades. Besides, I am certain that the Australian government would not object should the UN want to provide funds and build Hotel like accommodations for these refugees, but I do not see any offers of these sort surfacing among the criticism. The point is, as in council estates/housing, the conditions within these are largely affected by their occupants. Violence these days could classify to be anything and yes, I agree there should be a civil oversight of the operations of these facilities and out of the line guards punished. And so should the be the refugees if they turn out to be something else than a peaceful bunch. Probably children suffer the most and perhaps should not be living there. But then what do you do? break up a family and put them in youth centres or place them to families? I do not know what the solution is but I do not think Australia is so much out of line here. You've probably heard of the Calais immigration camp in France and how many "refugees" are trying to cross the channels to the UK every day. Do you think conditions there are better? I do not know what the best solution is, but I know that the UN should not voice anything abut Australia. The very fact that there are detention centres means that the process is working and we are trying to do the right thing, at least we're not putting people right back on the boat/plane like in the Us where an immigration agent decides quiet quickly your refugee status and charges the country of origin for the ticket. To my understanding, Australia even pays and tries to re-settle people who are found not to be refugees. I would like to see just how many UN states who criticizing us do the same? I am not cruel and I do feel for the world. There are many valid reasons to be a refugee and we as humans we should be compassionate. But I also see a different side where in most conflicts this day and age internal matters of certain states should be resolved within their borders and us as Western societies should not be interfering. Our ancestors built our societies because they fought for it and wanted it. So perhaps it is time for those nations to take action against their own oppressors within their own borders and build a better life for themselves, without asking us to do it for them or running away and claiming "refugee" status. My home is Australia and if I was called upon to defend it, I would do so without questions. Do you think someone, who ran away from their own country because they rather not fight for their own livelihood, would do the same? I know that often this is not so simple, but many times it is.... Off topic again, but the point is, I think in Australia we are smart enough and democratic enough to deal with our won backyard without the continuous criticism f the UN the home grown "cry wolves" the Greens..

It is not the pointy hat and you know that. And batons are still used even in the USA and I challenge you to try it out and tell me that it is not an effective weapon, because that is what a baton is a "weapon" that can be deadly in proper hands. You can carry other "non lethal" weapons on you. An I have been stopped several times for RBT and I just do not like the feeling when a cop walks up to me with his hand on the gun. For me it is intimidating and frightening. And not that cops here are not hesitant to shoot: if you do not stop they will not hesitate to pull the gun and shoot at you. You do not have to be a criminal not to stop. There is this ICE epidemic and could be a young person who just lost his way and fails to stop for police: does this mean that he deserves a bullet and potentially being sentenced to DEATH by the COP? If we agree that we humans can make mistakes, than it is given that a COP will make a mistake with a GUN in his hand. There is no death penalty in Australia, yet the police can become a JUDGE and EXECUTIONER any day. And that is usually one of the signs of a police state I think.

signs of a police state? You always wonder why does the police carry guns here (like US where they really need it) if same gun laws (no guns for you everyday Joe) as UK, where regular police men only carry batons..sorry off topic a bit, but it just came to mind...

Here you go, now it made the news in the UK too; and here is another article, this one is the Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/12/british-citizen-in-australia-for-50-of-51-years-faces-deportation-for-scrub-fire much more information than the original article. "Wightman was convicted last year for a fire he lit in 2011. The blaze burned less than an acre of scrubland and did not destroy any property or threaten life.Wightman served 15 months in jail, his first serious criminal conviction. He had previous driving convictions and low-level drug offences but none that attracted more than a fine. The court heard Wightman had lit the fire as he battled serious mental health problems brought about by drug abuse. But Wightman was apprehended immediately on leaving prison and detained at Yongah Hill detention centre, 90km east of Perth, for eight weeks before he was suddenly flown to Australia’s offshore detention centre on Christmas Island in the middle of the night" When Wightman was released from jail in September, Western Australia’s prisoners review board noted he had completed all rehabilitation programs and had demonstrated “a motivation to change his offending behaviour”. “A limited criminal history indicates an ability to lead a pro-social life,” it said.

How ironic that in 1876 my grand grand grandpa, got convicted for stealing grain to feed his family and shipped to Australia as a punishment with no possibility of return to the UK ever. Leaving behind a wife and 3 kids - nobody cared then and it was different times. But he was 27 and he eventually remarried here. And my grand grand grandma also survived back in the UK. Funny, I just see the resemblance of the law applied here not much has change since. The other thing and again, regardless of how he caused that bush-fire, wouldn't be more beneficial for Australia to let him stay home (because I think home is where you spend the most of your life) and keep paying back in form of taxes etc. to this country? I d not think everything is or has to be black and white all the time. Someone has mentioned, that what if you are much older than this man: let say he was 70 years old and facing the same faith. Would that really not to be considered? As humans, have we not grown to become better or more than medieval witch hunters? I would hope to think so..

for whatever reason he did not get his citizenship sorted we do not know, regardless he has an Australian family, not a UK one. So I assume it is okay to send him back and wreck his family? It is not easy to start a life in a new country at age 50 and you can start a bush fire by accident also..he was caught and prosecuted for it. I have hard time believing that at age 50 anyone would want to became a criminal. But that is not the point while the UK allows dual citizenship, many countries still don't and even prosecute people upon return - believe it or not. Could have been a person from one of those countries. Would that make a difference?

Yes, I agree that criminals should be dealt hard with but I think this man should be considered an Australian and although he screwed up is threatened to be deported back to the UK, the country he has left as a one year old infant with parents. If you give 50 years of your 51 year of life to a country, you should be considered Australian citizen and not a UK citizen. He grew up here, he worked here and has a family here after all. But just seems extreme, what do you recon? http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/briton-faces-deportation-after-50-years-in-australia/ar-CC2aqT?ocid=spartandhp

Hey guys, we are looking to escape Canberra and no matter what people say about it, it is probably the most unsocial place in Australia. Living here now for some 2 years, we feel that we have paid our duties and fulfilled our 2 years obligation of state sponsorship. Anyhow, the lack of appropriate jobs for immigrants had us working in and out casual jobs and that have eaten up all of our reserves and even a bit more. But if we stay longer, we feel that we will never get out of here. Any pointers or advice on job prospects? We found employment agencies and even seek.com.au useless. At least in Canberra - what matters is who you know, but that is not really helpful for newbies is it?

why?

I agree with you 100%. No person should be allowed to become a leader who wasn't born in that country. Period. But it is off the subject a bit :-)

Was referring to the Sunday roast as the atmosphere in a good country pub, which includes the old friends and family and such. Of course I can make roast..when I am not doing a shift.

I thought I'd share this info and please do not crucify me for it. There are a few things that you can get in Canberra that is from the UK. Since hubby rides his motorbike here, I am glad to say that his favourite UK brand, Akito is finally available in Australia too. he came home the other day with a grim on his face. You can find the gear at Aussiemoto? i think. Since I am the family's blogger, he asked me to break the news. I don't even know it is news anymore and apologies if it comes through as spamming... I am really missing the good Sunday roasts, but getting used to the good things here.

The biggest problem with Canberra is not living but getting a job. And good luck with that....

hope you'll have a better luck than we did!

Make certain to budget in at least 8 months of financial insecurity funds at $3500 a month, plus $13000 for a better used car and year worth of registration. Tough to get jobs in ACT because: - it has very little private sector jobs - for government jobs you need security clearance - lot of competition for jobs etc. etc. etc. Key is to socialize, most jobs you'll get is through connections, agencies are useless. Good luck and I hope it works out for you....

It is part of the process to prove that you have initial funds to sustain yourselves for 6 months at least. People who ask for release this early are the one who only use ACT nomination to get the 190 visa. We have been in ACT for 15 months now and I would say that is a "giving it a try" not 2 months....just two cents worth of opinion....

it is part of the process though. It is expected that it might be tough and you have to prove that you have enough funds to give it a go. The point was, if you have lied on your application of your intentions it is not just a moral obligation any more but a visa issue that could become more than just a moral issue. People tend to forget that visas can be cancelled should the sponsoring party withdraw sponsorship or report a false intention. A speed limit will not prevent you from driving a vehicle, but should you break it so it may lead to fines or loss of license. As far as I understand JOJOGOINGOZ did not give it a go while asked for a release (at least ACT Gov seems to thinks so). To obtain a class 190 it is a pre-requisite to prove genuine intention to settle in a territory. So there is a difference I think....

To be frank, there is a difference between those who just want a WAY INTO Australia and those who commit and think about giving it a go in a state. We are the latter ones, but personally I know people, who got their visas through ACT but went straight to Victoria or NSW. We have asked for release alternatively, but we are still in ACT after 14 month. We are still trying to make it work but it is very hard. Doing casual jobs here an there slows our resource consumption but will not make it stop. With no outlook for a full time job, we have no other options but to try our luck elsewhere- eventually. Holiday season coming up made us to wait a bit. Regardless, that is a bit of piss off when people ask for a decision to be released without giving it a go. But, Quoll, it is the ACT government's fault that they fall short of attracting manufacturing (or private companies) to come to the territory. Canberra has the potential to become the Silicon Valley of Australia, but all the government cares about is getting another retail store open (IKEA). Hard to sustain and grow an economy if the money is artificially injected into an area.

Modern, not ugly..but it is still under construction, and it was about being "bogan" not looks anyway...

Excuse us? Gungahlin bogan country? We beg to differ strongly! I think one of the best suburbs if not the best in Canberra!

No Melza, I am (we are not). We are skilled with and we came here bringing something to the table as well paying close to $10000 to the OZ government so we could do so. We do not take and get any benefit from the government here and we do not send our funds back to the UK like most people going there do, on top of having to pay nothing to enter and bringing nothing to the table. So there is a big difference mate. I assume you have never driven out of your bubble in the UK. I suggest you visit East Anglia, Peterborough, Cambridge etc. and see how many Polish, Russian and Romanians etc. you can count. Secondly, we are a multi- cultural/national couple, who not only contributed to society wherever we went but raised thousands in monies for people such as you so No matter in which country you are from, you'd have a better chance against fighting cancer and serious illnesses. And we are doing it even here, dedicating some time to society as volunteers. Do you??? If you are stating that the UK is still as glorious as it used to be, you are definitely living in the past. There is no way, that someone who moved here 11 years ago will be better off in the UK than here. And if you are suggesting/advising mrsdawnrazormay to move back because you think the UK is so fab still, I think you are giving ill advice. All is relative: there are hard times everywhere. We have it too good in the west and I think that we will have a hard time awakening when one day East will meet West. Make your life better by putting in, not just taking. as said, we are here to give back not just take, except for the sunshine of course.....