What are the main reasons you moved back?

[HappyHeart]

Sounds about right Oz to France apart from the public transport bit. The income I presume you mean a joint income do you? Id say $110 joint is do able

[paul1977]

Hi

I know I'm seen on here as Mr Grouch but I would say this to you and then others can tell me I'm wrong and at least you will get both points of view;

 

a) the amount of domestic gas installations here are substantially fewer as there are a lot less heating systems and most of those are LPG and there are not the same requirements for gas certs on rented property, or at least not in QLD so that is a fair bit of work gone already.( It is probably fair to say that NSW and Vict will have more heating systems and these are often gas fired warm air units)

 

B) Most gas installations are done by dual qualified plumber/ gas fitters

 

c) The house building industry is a bit in the doldrums at the moment, what it will be like in 2 years is anybody's guess.

 

d) Australia looks like it's going to be entering a bit of a lean time with downturns in it's driving force, mining, and how that will affect the housing industry is difficult to tell, Syndney's housing market is supposedly on the up but Brisbane and Perth are sliding backwards at THE MOMENT.

 

e) the cost of living here is higher than the UK, with rents and property prices significantly higher than the UK, food is a little higher than UK and utility bills I would say about 15-20% higher, eating out at other than fast food is very much more expensive and Alcohol both at the offie and in pubs much more expensive.

 

f) going out to the pub is a very different proposition here and that is something that you really need to research and get handle on because it is so different as is most entertainment availability and the cost of it.

 

g) you really need to use google maps to understand how far out from the center the cheap housing suburbs are and how isolating that can be for someone left at home and how few facilities there are out in some of these suburbs and how little public transport there is here in comparison to the UK.

 

h) the cost of fuel is about to rocket due to fall in Aus dollar and will be close to UK prices and that is going to hurt here because commuting often is a long journey

 

i) if you want to go self employed you need to check the individual state quals that you need to have to go self employed because they are much more onerous often that the quals which will get you a visa

 

I know that Australia has a lot to offer but there are downsides and one of these is that to live the Oz dream you have to have a good income and I would venture that that needs to be a income of around a $85-100k, I'll let everyone else on here take potshots at me but I think if you're coming here to make a fresh start and not be struggling with a family then it has to be around that figure.

Personally I would say closer to 120k, that's if your not a tight arse and have a broader horizon than beaches and parks

[Guest guest74886]

Every Australian paper - including small regional ones - is on the internet and is available for anyone in the world to read.

They are not censored to weed out the "bad" bits for the rest of the world.

If you want something other than Murdoch or Fairfax, read other news media and commentators - ABC, SBS, Crikey, The Drum, IndepentAustralia etc. They all have websites.

 

If anyone claims they don't know what's going on in Australia they have only themselves to blame.

 

They haven't "just discovered". Scientists have been warning about this for nearly 30 years.

The political will has been lacking to do anything about it.

It will, of course, involve more red tape and bureaucracy to take counter measures - which will bring joy to those on here who love to whinge about that.

 

 

 

So you slept through all the court cases which resulted in CEOs being imprisoned for financial fraud? Bit hard to miss very high profile ones like Alan Bond, I would have thought,

 

 

 

 

Really? Can't imagine how people I know received workers' compensation without any of those things.

 

 

 

Bit funny considering that it has taken over 20 years for the media scandal in the UK to be taken seriously. :rolleyes:

 

Never watched the investigative work - or read the books - of Paul Barry, Chris Masters, Sarah Ferguson?

Probably because they continue to beaver away doing their investigative work and are not interested in becoming media "stars".

Not that I don't appreciate Paxman's style: I am particularly loving his wonderful (but damning) "Empire" series on Australian TV at the moment

 

Ouch, did we catch a raw nerve or what.

[Guest]

Hi

I know I'm seen on here as Mr Grouch but I would say this to you and then others can tell me I'm wrong and at least you will get both points of view;

 

a) the amount of domestic gas installations here are substantially fewer as there are a lot less heating systems and most of those are LPG and there are not the same requirements for gas certs on rented property, or at least not in QLD so that is a fair bit of work gone already.( It is probably fair to say that NSW and Vict will have more heating systems and these are often gas fired warm air units)

 

B) Most gas installations are done by dual qualified plumber/ gas fitters

 

c) The house building industry is a bit in the doldrums at the moment, what it will be like in 2 years is anybody's guess.

 

d) Australia looks like it's going to be entering a bit of a lean time with downturns in it's driving force, mining, and how that will affect the housing industry is difficult to tell, Syndney's housing market is supposedly on the up but Brisbane and Perth are sliding backwards at THE MOMENT.

 

e) the cost of living here is higher than the UK, with rents and property prices significantly higher than the UK, food is a little higher than UK and utility bills I would say about 15-20% higher, eating out at other than fast food is very much more expensive and Alcohol both at the offie and in pubs much more expensive.

 

f) going out to the pub is a very different proposition here and that is something that you really need to research and get handle on because it is so different as is most entertainment availability and the cost of it.

 

g) you really need to use google maps to understand how far out from the center the cheap housing suburbs are and how isolating that can be for someone left at home and how few facilities there are out in some of these suburbs and how little public transport there is here in comparison to the UK.

 

h) the cost of fuel is about to rocket due to fall in Aus dollar and will be close to UK prices and that is going to hurt here because commuting often is a long journey

 

i) if you want to go self employed you need to check the individual state quals that you need to have to go self employed because they are much more onerous often that the quals which will get you a visa

 

I know that Australia has a lot to offer but there are downsides and one of these is that to live the Oz dream you have to have a good income and I would venture that that needs to be a income of around a $85-100k, I'll let everyone else on here take potshots at me but I think if you're coming here to make a fresh start and not be struggling with a family then it has to be around that figure.

 

I may have disagreed with you earlier. But this is a pretty fair estimate. Me and my partner live comfortably off 160K. The housing costs don't seem high to me in Brisbane but I came from London. I would never live in 2 bed 2 bath a nice suburb of London for a property That cost just over 200,000 (pounds) which is what we have done in Brisbane

[Guest guest74886]

Of course, when the same thing happens in Australia, you condemn it as racism and criticise it as one of the things you don't like about this country.

 

Can someone remind me when they last heard an Australian admitting in public to the country having racist tendencies.

[Guest guest74886]

Sounds about right Oz to France apart from the public transport bit. The income I presume you mean a joint income do you? Id say $110 joint is do able

 

Whichever way you slice it, if its a dual income I think it has to be north of $130k because of childcare costs

[HappyHeart]

Dont forget you get a lot of your childcare costs back unless youre on over $145 is it?

[paul1977]

I may have disagreed with you earlier. But this is a pretty fair estimate. Me and my partner live comfortably off 160K. The housing costs don't seem high to me in Brisbane but I came from London. I would never live in 2 bed 2 bath a nice suburb of London for a property That cost just over 200,000 (pounds) which is what we have done in Brisbane

That's because one is a global iconic city with lots to do, see, visit , good food drink etc . And the other is Brisbane. London is almost the worlds city so you pay a high price to live there. The day Brisbane stands shoulder to shoulder with London will be the day when your struggle for cheap property there.

[Guest]

That's because one is a global iconic city with lots to do, see, visit , good food drink etc . And the other is Brisbane. London is almost the worlds city so you pay a high price to live there. The day Brisbane stands shoulder to shoulder with London will be the day when your struggle for cheap property there.

 

Exactly my point! I don't think its expensive at the current weak pound, factor in the aussie average wage and its not expensive at all. Just similar to living in a big city anywhere. London/Sydney/New york I would consider expensive

[Skani]

Ouch, did we catch a raw nerve or what.

 

No...just a few facts.

[Guest guest74886]

HI ALL ! my name is tony and I'm a domestic gas engineer with electrical experience and soon to have HVAC qualifications too .Here's my problem I would love to move to oz.my partner wasn't sure at first but has come around to the idea ! I/We have been thinking about Perth because of my trades. But reading this thread I'm not so sure now .I have my partner and two girls 7/2 {the move wouldn't be for another two years at least } as I say I'm just looking with open eyes.

IS IT VIABLE ?? in this current climate ? please help as I say I have 2 small children and HAVE to get this right !!

 

Just another thought, you do need to investigate what registration requirements there are for your trade with the state boards and how much that would be and I'm assuming that your trade is on the 'occupations in demand' list, even if it is this is no guarantee that there are jobs actually open for you; you need to do research right up until you book the removers on what job openings are like before jumping off.

[Guest guest74886]

No...just a few facts.

 

You really must keep up to date , what about the ratbags that ran Storm Financial in Cairns or Eddie Obeids son that filed for bankruptcy on the evidence of his cleaner who said he hadn't been paid,he is now claiming as a bankrupt that he can't pay multi-millions the courts have found he owes Sydney Council.

[Paul1Perth]

To be fair Paul, and to give a bit of balance, 'kids ' can do it from the Uk too. My daughter has just finished her A levels and is touring Europe right now. She and her friends have been to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Krakow, are now in Budapest and heading to Vienna today, then to Munich, Paris, Florence and Rome before coming home at the end of July. She's home for 5 days before going to Norway and Sweden for three weeks with her boyfriend. Then she's home for 6hours before we go to Spain for a family holiday. She and her friends have paid for their trips themselves.

Yes, be careful where you move to (either way), but not everyone here is destitute, just as not everyone in Aus is wealthy.

 

I know it can be done from the UK and good on your daughter, she must have worked hard to get the money together. Trips like that are not cheap though and our son is lucky in that he has had the opportunity here to get an apprenticeship and very well paid job. You must live in a part of the country that's doing OK, for your daughter and friends to be able to save up that much whilst still at school.

 

I only hear from the in-laws, who are still all in the UK how tough it is for his cousins and we get quite a bit of "it's all right for our youngster but tough for them". Maybe they just haven't applied themselves very well and have been idle? The ones in Tolpuddle in particularly aren't destitute, they've had to help their 2 through Uni but neither of them would have enough money to do what your daughter is doing.

[Paul1Perth]

Sorry, but there is nowhere more full of their own self importance as Oz. Even worse than the USA and that says something! You only have to be around for Australia day to see that. The funny thing is, that while the US has some justifacation for it being the world super power. Most people barely register Australia. Maybe thats why - they know that to the rest of the world there just some parochial rock down under and so they over compensate. Bit like a kid that gets ignored and starts jumping up and down for attention.

 

I've always enjoyed Australia Day, thought it was a great idea, everyone always seems to have a good time and be in a good mood. Just another day off work and an excuse for a party to most. Maybe you are just reading too much into it VS.

[Paul1Perth]

HI ALL ! my name is tony and I'm a domestic gas engineer with electrical experience and soon to have HVAC qualifications too .Here's my problem I would love to move to oz.my partner wasn't sure at first but has come around to the idea ! I/We have been thinking about Perth because of my trades. But reading this thread I'm not so sure now .I have my partner and two girls 7/2 {the move wouldn't be for another two years at least } as I say I'm just looking with open eyes.

IS IT VIABLE ?? in this current climate ? please help as I say I have 2 small children and HAVE to get this right !!

 

I would say go for it mate. You stand just as much chance of making a go of it here as you do in the UK at a minimum, maybe more chance, who knows what it will be like in a couple of years. You might not even be able to get a visa so until you do I wouldn't be worrying about it.

 

There are jobs and will be jobs here just as in the UK. It's probably a bit harder to get the first one for newcomers but if things are better here and there are more jobs, obviously going to be better. On average your salary's going to be better but it's more expensive to live, so it kind of balances itself out. Let's face it you spend what you get no matter where you live. We just figured we may as well live in a nice climate, close to great beaches, rather than stay in the UK and try and save up every year for a couple of weeks in the sun. Nothing more scientific than that. Didn't come to make loads of money, expect a big house with a pool, no boat or anything like that, just the same sort of outgoings we had in the UK but with sun, blue skies, a holiday atmosphere thrown in.

[Paul1Perth]

Actually the French I find refreshing in their honesty about not liking other races and nationalities and a lot of French people admit to it and there is public discourse about that as a part of public life and that has spawned a very nationalistic political party which has a part in political life, it is at least out in the open and there are concerns expressed about its policies, there is still a Communist party which also still has adherents and nobody is shocked by that either.

 

As De Gaulle said how can you run a country that produces so many cheeses, but at least they have some understanding of what Socialism should stand for and the country doesn't try all the the time to project itself as some kind of Nirvana.

 

And they can at least build things like the Millau viaduct ( http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/03/millau-viaduct-france-tallest-bridge-in.html ), a bit better than Cambell Newmans bankrupt tunnels

 

Strange that you find "French I find refreshing in their honesty about not liking other races and nationalities and a lot of French people admit to it and there is public discourse about that as a part of public life" yet if aussies do the same thing they are branded as racist.

[Paul1Perth]

You really must keep up to date , what about the ratbags that ran Storm Financial in Cairns or Eddie Obeids son that filed for bankruptcy on the evidence of his cleaner who said he hadn't been paid,he is now claiming as a bankrupt that he can't pay multi-millions the courts have found he owes Sydney Council.

 

Both of them under investigation, not swept under the carpet.

[jen85]

Dont forget you get a lot of your childcare costs back unless youre on over $145 is it?

 

 

Apparently you only get a maximum of $7,500 per year which equates to about half of what people actually pay with most cc centres being on average about $100 per day.

[HappyHeart]

Is say its closer to $70 a day to be honest. My son is older now but an after school session is $22 and a whole day

(holiday care) is from $48 up to $62 on excursion days for the whole day. I get a small amount off the fees, then 50% of what I paid back every quarter. I think its a very generous scheme.

[nicolac34]

Dont forget you get a lot of your childcare costs back unless youre on over $145 is it?

 

Is that single or joint?

 

I do think $7,500 off childcare is generous, won't make a dent in full-time care in Perth though, the ones I've seen are $100-$120 per day. Crazy to think that once they get to school age if you send them private that will be cheaper than daycare!

[HappyHeart]

joint..my daycare was never that expensive though...maybe there are 'exclusive' daycares nearer the city!

[nicolac34]

joint..my daycare was never that expensive though...maybe there are 'exclusive' daycares nearer the city!

 

Yeah they are in Subiaco and I do think they are more expensive than the 'norm' but they don't struggle for children, there's a 2 year waiting list!

 

Joint? That's not good news.

[nicolac34]

Just googled it, it's childcare BENEFIT that is income tested, that has the $145k limit, the childcare REBATE ($7,500 pa) isn't income tested.

 

If you earn less than $145k (having just had a quick read now) it certainly seems far more generous than the UK!

Edited July 11, 2013 by nicolac34

[HappyHeart]

Thats good that the rebate isn't income tested, so you can basically halve the price quoted?

[nicolac34]

Thats good that the rebate isn't income tested, so you can basically halve the price quoted?

 

If you're childcare amounts to $15,000 p.a. then I guess you can!

 

The way I'm looking at it is (don't have children, but thinking about it soon), based on $120 per day x 5 days per week x 50 weeks per year (most close for 2 over christmas) then I'd be looking at $30,000 p.a. - $7,500 = $22,500 p.a. or $1,875 per month.

 

That's worse case senario, so anything less than that is a bonus!