alscotoz

Look north of the city. North Melbourne, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick, Coburg etc.

16 yo have as much of a clue as 18yo, have as much of a clue as 20yo...and the beat goes on.

11 hours ago, The Pom Queen said:

Here are some more of the Cooktown festival held once a year to celebrate Captain James Cook coming ashore.

 

 

 

 

You sure that's not the Cooktown Mardi Gras? 

About 20 years since I've been to Cape York. Stayed for a week. very expensive and unless the roads have been upgraded you can become isolated in the wet season. Nice people though.

Why do Scouse's have their own visa classification?

Makes sense, I suppose. Well dodgy 

Warm today about 37. Enjoyed sitting outside in the shade reading a book. 40 tomorrow apparently but the good thing is overnight temp will allow decent sleep.

FYI bloke from bristol, i was wearing shorts.

24 minutes ago, JustUs said:

I would recommend giving Aussie Broadband(the title of this discussion might be a little misleading as it refers to the broadband situation in Australia and not this company in particular) a try (https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/). I'm getting decent and consistent upload speeds of 40+/15+ on a 50/20. They  DO NOT have a contract lock in period which means if you don't like their service/speeeds you can switch without problems and apparently they've built their own "backend network"...which from my limited understanding is that most providers rent ports from Telstra or Optus at the exchanges before internet traffic gets on to the NBN. This often leads to congestion at the exchanges/POI's and can lead to slower speeds during peak hours or if you're connected to an exchange with many users and generally the 2 giant telcos tend to prioritise their own customers to that of a reseller. If you've got bandwidth congestion problems, you complain to your provider, who then investigates and sends a report to either Telstra or Optus. Aussie Broadband on the other hand, have invested in their own POI's. When I signed up last year, they were the only other company other than the big 2 telcos to have this. On top of that, their customer service is pretty slick.

Some locations have packages up to 100Mbps.

Not had too many issues with them. Like I said, no lock-in periods, good customer service...btw, we've only got FTTN. (before the NBN we were getting 2-4Mbps on ADSL which was miserable.)

Hope this helps..

PS: Disclosure :The only commercial ties I have to Aussie Boradband is that I have to pay my NBN bill monthly...

I'm with Aussie Broadband and i don't have any issues with them (and they have an office locally). I would give telstra a wide body-swerve based on previous experience.

48 minutes ago, Sunset said:

BBC figures are showing 1 in 10 nurses are leaving the NHS every year. Last year 3000 more left than joined the system. Nurses are concerned about hours worked conditions and patient needs not being met.

My partner's a nurse in Oz. Wouldn't say they're a happy bunch. Unless new to the profession hardly any work full time. Too much BS from bean counters, just want to do their shift and get out.

My brother's also a nurse. He's been able to scam the shift system for years and works almost exclusively on night shift...the bean counters don't work then, you see.

Thread was going gangbusters until the bloke from bristol stopped giving us updates on what he was wearing to cover his nether regions.

You wearing the shorts today or what? Daily updates required, if you don't mind.

Actually, bloke from bristol, are you sure you're not one of the 4 yorkshiremen?

I inherited FTTP when i moved into my new house last year. Previously has ADSL. On a 50/25 plan with Aussie Broadband ( a big selling point was it has an office in the town where I work). Average about 45/20. The big difference for me is drop outs are rare and there is no buffering involved whilst streaming. $75/month for 500gb (only exceeded once) is not bad considering I don't have to pay for landline anymore. It's faster than ADSL but whether it's fast compared to other countries is unknown. Had a mate visit from Scotland and one from HK and they were unimpressed but that was a couple of years ago.

At the end of the day, as long as the service is reliable and allow you to do what you want (eg watch netflix and use your smart TV, talk to my mum on viber...for my family), having 25/12, 50/25, 100/50 is irrelevant...except for the price, of course!

54 minutes ago, kevsan said:

Hi

Depends on your budget and requirements.

Frankston / Mount Eliza/ Mornington are great for kids and good for the beach etc.

 

Frankston is significantly cheaper than other places above, is about 55 mins on the express train into flinders street (which run every 10 minutes or so )

Mount Eliza / Mornington mean a 20 minute drive to the station, on top of the train commute. I live in Langwarrin with 1 wife, 2 kids and a dog and we love it, v. green and great spaces. - I drive to seaford station (10 mins) then 50 mins into the city.

Would have loved to live slightly closer to the beach, but couldnt make the finances stack up, and its only an 11 minute drive to the beach at frankston/seaford anyway.

If i drive, i can get into the city in about 45 minutes, but that is largely dependent on traffic etc and then it can be expensive for parking.

There are great schools locally including state and private. We send our kids to a church school which goes from Kinder to year 12 which is very popular

You'd be in trouble if you had any more! Still, one's more than enough. 

Frankston is still affordable, close to the beach but some rough areas.

2 minutes ago, danikap said:

Calm down 

Have a go. I went over with no plan. Saying "grow up" was wrong but TAKE A RISK! Doesn't sound like you have much to lose.

On 12/28/2017 at 21:33, danikap said:

Thankyou, yes I am single, have just come out of a relationship this year, but always had it in mind to go. I always thought in the next few years I would have a baby and settle down here in OZ, i still very much want those things but it was now or never I guess for the UK 

I guess my worry is about homesickness, I have never lived abroad but travelled. When it gets down to it im just really anxious and scared about going 

30yo? kinell mate had it well out of my system by then. Grow up.

12 minutes ago, starlight7 said:

No worries. Just back from the local Korean restaurant - popping up everywhere, a sign of the times?

Went to one on NYE. Quite enjoyed bbq'ing for the 2 of us.

On 11/20/2017 at 13:14, Paul1Perth said:

She'll be right mate.

I used to think saying that was quaint. Now it just bugs the crap out of me!

My parents and sisters live on the Sunshine Coast (Pelican Waters/Caloundra). Like visiting there and do so every couple of years but would have no desire to move there. Everything seems to be closed by 7pm? Lot of retirees there. Plus, no daylight savings. Good beaches, though. Only visited Brisbane for short periods of time, so can't really comment.

3 minutes ago, Parley said:

What makes you think the banks will put up rates this year if the RBA do nothing ?

They didn't last year, or the year before, or the year before, or the year before, or the year before, or the year before.

 

random google search

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-17/interest-rates-four-reasons-why-rba-cannot-raise-them/8714010 (about a third of the way down...I experienced those hikes)

They also have form for not passing on cuts in full, because they don't have to...which is my point. 

I never said it was illegal or shonky, I was only responding to what I perceived to be your view that the RBA was the arbiter of whether interest rates rise (or fall) ergo, the banks will fall into line with their decisions.

My reference to the Royal Commission had nothing to do with the setting of interest rates, I fully understand that is not what it has been set up for. Actually if you could enlighten me as to why it has been set up, it would be appreciated.

Cheers

On 11/14/2017 at 15:43, Parley said:

Certainly no prospect of rate rises for the foreseeable future.

Inflation and wage growth is very low and the RBA only raises rates when inflation is a problem in the economy.

The RBA don't dictate what rates the banks set, as has been witnessed in the past. They will set the pace and given the 'major 4' don't really 'compete' with each other, the market doesn't control it either. Expect rate rises this year even if the RBA sit on their hands and do nothing. MP's will come out and throw out meaningless platitudes about the banks doing the right thing by the 'mums and dads' (how condescending' is that) and that people should go out and shop around. Shop around, my arse. It's a closed shop. My mortgages are not with one of the big 4 but i know my loan is 'underwritten' by Westpac, so in reality you are still in their clutches. Also the exit fees from mortgages are highly prohibitive and involve dealing with lawyers/conveyancers etc...who needs it? I don't, so I don't do it, too much hassle...yeah I know!

The bubble will burst and it will be messy. If you're one of those people (and there are thousands) who shouldn't have been given a mortgage and can't live with a 2-3% rise or end up with a property that is overcapitalised, that's a shame...but the banks/brokers did give you the money and we'll all pay...except for the banks, of course!

At least the Royal Commission will change things...

2 minutes ago, Toots said:

Zack wasn't happy in England either when he went back at one time.  I do feel a bit sorry for him though.  It's bad for your health to be so down in the dumps about just about everything.

Here are some of the comments he made when he went back to the UK to live.

"We moved back 5 months ago after 27 years in Aus.What a disaster from the go.Can't wait to get back to reality and peopl;e in authority that treat you as a fellow humane.Perpetual darkness; rain,bitter cold,and it's been a mild winter.The whole system sucks,Age discrimination is rife.Car insurance,utillity bills,council tax, ALL GANGSTERS,Wanting Huge sums of money.It's a up hill battle,nobody cares.Theres no light at the end of a big dark tunnel.Rules and regulations,security questions,drives you potty.Checking who you are,the credit system.The banks are run by the Mafia.My god it's a nightmare".

It's to be hoped he does settle happily the next time he moves back to the UK.

Sounds like the life and soul...

On 12/27/2017 at 22:08, Zack said:

We have been here  35 years. We returned to the UK in 2012 and i  came back to Australia in November 2013, Because of  propelems in Aus with a family member.My wife followed in 2014. Big mistake. We now hate it here ,we dread the summer in rural Queensland the heat is  prolific.just too much. It's uncomfortable. The friends we had have gone back to the Uk and the Aussie friends we had turned on us.Your not allowed to have a opinion in Australia. We live in a nice house in a nice place with Lake views. But it's like a graveyard,There's nothing here, and nothing in the Town only 10 min drive away. The Kids opposite  are bored out of their minds, riding bikes, up and down the road all day. Everyone here sticks to themselves. I have not spoken to one neighbour. The new laws the Government have brought in for Dual Citizens.. Makes us now feel insecure. The Government is deporting dual citizens that commit a crime ,or become ill and are deemed to be a burden on the Australian Health service. Their Australian citizenship is canceled .And they are deported back to their place of birth. No one knows what will happen ,health wise, as you become old. .Plus the aged have to pay now for Certain Health requirements now,That used to be free  as a aged pensioner. My wife recently had to have a Mri x ray as she had a fall ,and hit her head. cost $610 .00. The Doctor is sending her for another one on her knee.Cost $485. I  don't see the point in living in Australia .When the older you get ,The worse it will become .Until one day you can't even afford to see a doctor. Bulk billing is slowly disappearing. Young couples are feeling the pinch .Having to pay over $400 to see a doctor with a child and a  couple of  scripts.. Many people in Australia are being overwhelmed by the high cost of living. Stagnant wages,forever increasing  Rates, water ,costs ,to get anything repaired, is  out of control, and of course the coast of Houses.We can't get back to the UK quick enough. Just have to sell  up .But as everyone knows  ,Everyone is different.And all circumstances are different. And it makes a huge difference if your extended family are all here. Some people think it's paradise,Others are trapped here. And some grow to hate it.

New to this site and made it a mission to get through this thread....hard work and often derailed.

However, I couldn't let this one go. What a load of unadulterated BS. You seem mighty confused, scared even.

To the OP, I would take many of the comments on here with a mountainload of salt. When I get a minute, I'll tell you my experience.

Good luck

On 1/3/2018 at 16:50, mzubair said:

Hi,

In my last 4 years, I have almost 18 demerit points.

Offenses with Learner License 

1) Driving without L plate and without assistance of Full License holder in NSW state.

2) Kids seats were not properly restrained.

Offenses with Full License 

3) Over speeding under 10KM

4) Red light Signal brake

5) Red light Signal brake

6) Over speed above 10KM  License suspended after 13+ demerit points

7) Few parking offenses during last 4 years

 

Do I have to declare all above offenses in my Citizenship Application and would that effect my application???

Regards,

 

Unsure if being irresponsible will affect your application...I doubt it. But you need to raise your game!

1 minute ago, Johnnyboy said:

3 hours ago, alscotoz said:

Employee contribution is voluntary, don't have to pay anything if you don't want to (I wouldn't bother paying anything if I were you until you know exactly what you want to do if you come over). 
Employers MUST pay a minimum of 9.5%, some pay more. Do you know if what you have been offered is inclusive or exclusive of superannuation...it's pretty important because it will affect the income you get at the end of the pay period.

Super is on top of that $85k offered. Thanks

So you could take the glass half full approach and say that your package is about $93k. Any phones or vehicles or health insurance included? It all adds up. Have you been offered a job by Telstra? In your field it is probably hard to avoid some connection with them. I agree with others. Retain and rent out your home, give it at least 12 months and see how it goes. Also if your partner is likely to come with a negative fixed mindset probably best not to bother.

Give it a go mate, is my advice. If it doesn't work out look at it as 'gap time...sell it to your partner that way too'.

On 11/16/2017 at 08:59, KTM1963 said:

The tax is much higher in Oz too so although it sounds like a decent wage, once you take out applicable taxes and deductions for Super, generally employee contribution of 9.5% with your employer matching that and medicare levy which is 2% what is left in your hand isn't as much as you'd think. If you're classed as a foreign resident rather than a permanent resident there is also no tax break.  Everything is 32.5 cents in the dollar. I earn much less in the UK but with only 20% tax and NI contributions and a much lower cost of living I always have money left each month, something I rarely did in Australia.  Having said that I am sharing a house including all bills at the moment 425 all up so not too may outgoings. i am in a different dilemma as definitely selling my unit in Melbourne and trying to arrange from afar but will be worth it.  I took home about $4,200 from memory.  Check out the ATO link below for Super and other worthwhile info.

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/

Employee contribution is voluntary, don't have to pay anything if you don't want to (I wouldn't bother paying anything if I were you until you know exactly what you want to do if you come over). 

Employers MUST pay a minimum of 9.5%, some pay more. Do you know if what you have been offered is inclusive or exclusive of superannuation...it's pretty important because it will affect the income you get at the end of the pay period.

Geelong is the second biggest city in Victoria. It has been hit hard economically over the past decade or so. I have never lived there, visited often and i would say it's greatest asset is it's proximity to thee Great Ocean Road. 

Supposed to be getting banned in Victoria. It is vile and i say that as someone who rents out a property.