Gary H

The TV literally had the migrants on a loop when I was back, the story rotating from hotels being full, to the new barge then statistics of how many arrived.I spent 3 weeks on teh south coast near Folkstone, the coast guard sat mid-channel every day. The news hardly touched on the fallout from Brexit, the Tories awarding billions in contracts that evaporated to their mates, the councils going bankrupt, and the NHS issues. However, they did seem to villainize the same people applauded during the corvid for having the audacity to strike over crap pay and conditions. Yes, it's an issue with people coming over but glaringly obvious that these people are being pushed to front and centre of public attention. A more cynical mind could think it was a distraction from other issues. My cousin summed it all up, living here is better if you watch your finances and turn your TV off. Trust your own eyes and not what you're told to see.

All considerations, I am looking at NI and set ball rolling a while back have been told we would get an answer on contributions by the end of October.

I have been lucky to be a UK and Australian citizen. Spent 9 years in Cairns, and a couple in SE QLD (GC) before that 15 years in SE Asia. The last time I went Uk was 7 years ago, and well it messed with my head, reconnecting and feelings of familiarity. COVID happened, and life changed. We moved I started a business and well became somewhat settled. I have just spent a month back there, same feelings are stirred up. I miss my family terribly, they are dispersed all over the UK , Cyprus (parents), and Canada but accessible if in the UK as opposed to Aus. Our flights to the UK cost a fortune compared to pre covid, The UK had changed, and there was a noticeable difference in the poverty gap. My old grounds (Thurrock) are now classed as some of the most economically deprived parts of the UK the council has gone bust, the roads in SE corner are well shocking, and the country is noticeably different post covid and Brexit. I won't talk about the need for everything requiring an app cost of living compared to Aus nor the health system but all a negative overall. However some parts are thriving, and there is still a buzz to London that is unique, there is a lot I prefer about living there we had incredible weather (although I suspect we got lucky overall I don't mind the UK climate) It is decision time I now know that I would have to live elsewhere in the UK than where I had imagined, work what to do the wages are not comparable, there is a possibility I can transfer my business ( MH training) Glad we returned as expensive as it all was, plenty to think about, recognise now how Australian I have become, and the gloss of rose glasses is gone any decision we make will be with current experience in mind. 50 years young, no kids to worry about just a house to organise and sell/rent really, or make eth most of Aus and spend retirement time in Uk but Q is will it be too late by then? Either way, we are lucky and thankful for the choices.

8 years in Cairns and 2 in SEQ GC. For me it's like comparing apples and oranges, SEQ is nowhere near as laid back, the climate I prefer down here summers up FNQ are brutal (I lived in SE Asia for 16 years so used to heat ) Crime wise it's everywhere, just much more visible, petty and annoying up FNQ, lots of antisocial behavior in both Cairns and Townsville. Health service-wise, no comparison between FNQ & SE Qld there is much more access to specialist procedures in SE Qld, but that also depends if you have a private health fund or not. In FNQ there is 1 oncall (yup you read that right 1) emergency helicopter covering Cairns to the tip of cape york and out west, a second one is in TV covering south to Mackay. SC is a good spot, We are looking at the hinterland in that region as an alternative, and between the middle of FNQ and GC will see

Both states are huge, and offer vastly different experiences depending on where you want to live, lifestyle, climate, opportunities, etc QLD out west, Far North, Gulf country, hinterlands, or the SE corner completely different, Same for WA except it is SW corner.

First up by whatever means get yourself registered somehow at a Uk address, technically you should be there, but you can always work out a way with good friends or family. For example, cheap mobile plan, Uk driving license, Look up NI number and move to address, any RN status renew at the new address. The more you can create a digital footprint in the UK in advance the easier the rest will fall in place.

Spend the money get an agent, let the agent know you hope to offset the move costs (as its works related) against tax in coming years. As for visa you can look at skills list and also know that FNQ is part of a special zone classed as remote living with appropriate visa's.We entered on a remote works visa years back, now citizens. As for property secure an air bnb have a look around, suburbs vary vastly. If I lived back there I would be looking at Redlynch area. Just left Cairns after 7 years, the summers got to us both in the end. Cairns sits in a bowl shape valley, as does the humidity. Moving now to cooler less humid climate.

When planning route back look at Singapore you have then returned from a green status country via a green status country. Routes via the middle east now require a quarantine on return. Even if you have both jabs, although its shortened to 5 days.

Maybe not hard for you or as you perceive it. I have a service dog that needs to be transported with us, plus other issues that are nobody's concern. Covid has made it all but impossible for us now in our situation.

I cannot see things opening up for at least another year and life is what passes by while you wait for the opportunity. So house sold, have a van moving off see what happens heading south for now.

Just last week Scott Morrison was in UK, posing for pics outside a UK pub with his team, the other part is referring to athletes being given exemptions, even from Victoria when it was under recent lockdown "as they had spent a long time preparing " quote from Vic dep Premier. Meanwhile as I said people cannot even travel interstate for personal affairs and relocating overseas has become troublesome. WTF indeed. As soon as things settle down a bit and we can take our dogs reliably, we are out of here, 9 years in the bin company wound up and house sold already. Its all about populist politics with this lot. https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/prime-minister-scott-morrison-visited-not-just-one-pub-on-his-uk-visit-but-three/news-story/442d67be936b584a619d88533f593259

Unfortunately a fair bit of red tape, plus depending on which route you take a possible stop over, look into relocation flights (inbound) as they occasionally offer direct Darwin to Uk/Europe flights on flight out Meanwhile whilst we have to apply for exemptions and struggle with navigating it all, Sco mo visits English Pubs with his team in what he previously stated is a Covid ravaged country, and athletes grin on TV about attending games in Japan. Madness really Good luck with the move, we are holding tight as we are struggling to get our Dog back right now

Cracks me up, the dirty water in rivers has more to do with. Crappy development, water rights going to large corporate farms, people hooning up and down waterways in jet skis, boats etc.

Sunshine coast or gold coast

Hi all, well Covid threw us a curve ball initially was returning to UK/Europe but now staying in Oz happy with the decision. Lived in Cairns 7 years and over it, sold our house in Cairns and heading South. I will be running my own business Mental Health and remote and wilderness first aid, my wife is a bookkeeper. Neither of us is interested in an apartment nor paying a premium to live on or near a beach, spent 14 years living on an island so been there and done that. After a 3 bed house garden and large garage type set up. Just undecided on GC or Sunshine Coast, heard the sunshine is hard for work ? Any how any input on experience or areas to avoid or live would be great. Cheers