Calling all Australians

[Hardcoreruss]

Me and and the beast from Bodmin Moor are contemplating emmigrating to Australia. I have a few questions which hopefully you can answer.

1. VAT (value added tax, on goods and services) how much is it ?

2. Do you have council tax, poll tax etc..... how much is it ?

3. When you pass your driving test (I do not drive) are their any laws about someone who has just passed their test having to be accompanied by someone who has been driving for a certain period of time.

4. How much would a flat in Sydney (city) 2 bedrooms cost (roughly).

5. Do you think I should do it ?, I mean do you think my god why does he want to come here when you read this ?

6. Any more info on costs you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot

Russ

[Phunkie Munky]

Why Australia, go to South Africa

[g_shocker182]

Why leave? I hear your nation of UK is the number one place in the world where people emigrate to (in the face of oppression, etc.)....Number 2 being the US and I believe the third Germany.
Just a note.

[pbhalerao]

Have you tried the option of a Work Holiday? I believe that many do. Personal experience is the best before jumping into the pond.

[ChrisX]

Me and and the beast from Bodmin Moor are contemplating emmigrating to Australia. I have a few questions which hopefully you can answer.

1. VAT (value added tax, on goods and services) how much is it ?

2. Do you have council tax, poll tax etc..... how much is it ?

3. When you pass your driving test (I do not drive) are their any laws about someone who has just passed their test having to be accompanied by someone who has been driving for a certain period of time.

4. How much would a flat in Sydney (city) 2 bedrooms cost (roughly).

5. Do you think I should do it ?, I mean do you think my god why does he want to come here when you read this ?

6. Any more info on costs you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot

Russ

1) 10% GST excepting health, banking and groceries. There are also other taxes such as stamp duty on homes, cars and insurance. We have a Medicare health scheme to see a doctor and a prescription scheme as well.

2) Council rates, this depends on area as it varies.

3) When someone passes a driving test get a "provisional" drivers licence. The restriction is the speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour and this is for 18 months. Best no alcohol or drugs while driving at all as very strict at .02 limit. The provisional driver must display "P" on the front and back of the vehicle. The minimum age is 17 years. Having to be accompanied by someone who has been driving for a certain period of time only applies to learner permits.

This is for NSW where Sydney is the State capital city. Check out: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/licencecategories/typesoflicences/provisional/index.html

Further details on being a new driver: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/licencecategories/typesoflicences/provisional/spec...formation.html

4) Purchasing property in Sydney is very expensive. However, there is talk of rental properties being in oversupply. This depends on the suburb and this is an example of a suburb: Parramatta: $200-$350 p.w.

To give you an idea of the money, the Australian Dollar is around USD 66 cents.

For rental prices: Real Estate Australia

Sydney is getting very crowded and a lot of traffic and getting to be like New York.

Info on Sydney: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/

5) You should do it provided that you have excellent skills, experience and great potential of a job. Do you know anyone here and have any friends in Sydney? This would help.

England is a cold place during winter and I think the weather here is much better and warmer. We don’t have extreme storms and disasters much like the US and I am not saying we don’t have any. Queensland and the northern Australia sometimes get tropical cyclones, which is equivalent to hurricanes. Strong earthquakes are a rarity here as well. You will be coming to a better place however can be pretty hot here during summer.

Immigration to Australia is tough and I am saying not easy. You have to compete with everything getting a future here in Australia.

I suggest you getting a visa first to see what Sydney is like and to make sure you will be happy here.

Immigration info: http://www.immi.gov.au/
Australian Customs: http://www.customs.gov.au/

Sydney got a beautiful harbour much like San Francisco’s Harbour. We got beautiful scenery and the beaches. Jobs are the best in Sydney.

Melbourne is another Australian city you could consider and cheaper than Sydney. Queensland is another area and the capital city is Brisbane.

Good luck
Chris

[feeras]

Hi,

Just a word of caution. Be careful under trees (especially gumtrees) in Australia as there is the inherent danger of 'dropbears' - bears that fall onto you from trees. There have been numerous deaths in recent months from dropbears - mainly unsuspecting tourists. I think some poor fella fell asleep under a tree once and was kill overnight. Also, try to not hit kangaroos on our roads here. They are bothersome, particularly on our city streets.

Cheers,
feeras

[pacmania_2001]

Hi,

Just a word of caution. Be careful under trees (especially gumtrees) in Australia as there is the inherent danger of 'dropbears' - bears that fall onto you from trees. There have been numerous deaths in recent months from dropbears - mainly unsuspecting tourists. I think some poor fella fell asleep under a tree once and was kill overnight. Also, try to not hit kangaroos on our roads here. They are bothersome, particularly on our city streets.

No, 'dropbears' only happen to female swedish backpackers, remember?

Anyway, stop messing with his head! :P

Back to the original question. I would suggest Queensland as a better location to move to in Australia. As Chris said, we have cheaper housing and in general cheaper living.

Brisbane (our capital city and where I live), is situated on the river and as such we have some great parks and lots of outdoor events. The public transport system for Brisbane is also first class.

Also less than an hours drive away is the Gold Coast where there is some top beaches and the night life is also great.

If you do move to QLD instead of NSW there are a few different things relating to licences. In QLD you pass a written test (dead easy) and you get given a learner's licence. This allows you to drive (anywhere, anytime) as long as you have a licenced driver accompany you.

After 6 months of that you go for an actual driving test with a driving tester. If you pass that then you get a provisional licence. On the provisional licence you must have a 0.00 BAC (no drugs/alcohol). On a 'P' licence you can travel anywhere by yourself and drive any car. Unlike NSW you don't have to display 'P' plates on your vehicle.

After 3 years of that you move onto an unrestricted licence which allows you to have a 0.05 alcohol limit and also more demerit points.

I would also suggest you come over for a holiday first before trying to immigrate and check out the main east coast cities (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) and see which one suits your taste.

[Hardcoreruss]

Why Australia, go to South Africa

I work for a South African asset management company. Don't really want to live there, heard a lot of stories

[Hardcoreruss]

Why leave? I hear your nation of UK is the number one place in the world where people emigrate to (in the face of oppression, etc.)....Number 2 being the US and I believe the third Germany.
Just a note.

They come here because we are a push over. Free everything to all and screw the people who have lived and worked here all their lives. This is the worst country in the world, taxation is a joke. No offence to others but I want to have kids and I will not forsake my children to growing up in this shit hole.

[Hardcoreruss]

Have you tried the option of a Work Holiday? I believe that many do. Personal experience is the best before jumping into the pond.

I spent 19 months in Oz travelled around a bit. I have some friends who live in a place called Kurrajong at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Also I will probably get a transfer with work (hopefully) and their offices are in Sydney.

[Hardcoreruss]

Hi,

Just a word of caution. Be careful under trees (especially gumtrees) in Australia as there is the inherent danger of 'dropbears' - bears that fall onto you from trees. There have been numerous deaths in recent months from dropbears - mainly unsuspecting tourists. I think some poor fella fell asleep under a tree once and was kill overnight. Also, try to not hit kangaroos on our roads here. They are bothersome, particularly on our city streets.

Cheers,
feeras

Whats a sodding drop bear ? how big are they ?, got a picture. Bear in mind I will have the missus with me, nothing will touch me with that on me arm. And when the monster in law is over that is double the protection !!! :P

[Hardcoreruss]

Chriscjgs thanks a lot, loads to check out. Will post back later when we have thought about it more and I have found out if I can get a transfer.

[Phunkie Munky]

Why Australia, go to South Africa

I work for a South African asset management company. Don't really want to live there, heard a lot of stories

Lol !
What story's, you mean murders.

Yeah they happen a bit *quite offen really* but that just makes it more exciting

.............. *dead smilie's* lol

[pacmania_2001]

Whats a sodding drop bear ? how big are they ?, got a picture. Bear in mind I will have the missus with me, nothing will touch me with that on me arm. And when the monster in law is over that is double the protection !!!

http://www.bundabergrum.com.au/media/dropbears.zip

That should pretty much explain what a drop bear is.

[holistic]

KOALAS are not BEARS

I expected better from you .

][

[Hardcoreruss]

Excellent Pacmania really funny. Should find out in the next couple of weeks if I can get a transfer with my company. It will definitely be Sydney where i am going as that is the only place they have offices.

[vitualis]

Me and and the beast from Bodmin Moor are contemplating emmigrating to Australia. I have a few questions which hopefully you can answer.

1. VAT (value added tax, on goods and services) how much is it ?

As others have stated, we now have a 10% GST that is not universally applied to everything. Undoubtedly a logistical nightmare for shop owners but you as the consumer won't notice it (the listed price in Australia must always include the GST).

2. Do you have council tax, poll tax etc..... how much is it ?

You will have council rates that you will have to pay. How much will depend on the council that you live in and also the price of your property. Although we all whinge about council rates, most (well, in Sydney anyway) councils provide quite good services (e.g., garbage collection, recycling, green waste collection, parks, libraries, etc.).

3. When you pass your driving test (I do not drive) are their any laws about someone who has just passed their test having to be accompanied by someone who has been driving for a certain period of time.

Once you get your learner's license, not surprisingly, you will need to be accompanied by someone at all times who is "teaching" you to drive...

Once you get your provisional license, you can drive by yourself as much as you like (though there are some limitations like your max. speed and a more restrictive max. blood alcohol level).

After 3 years of your provisional license, you get a full license.

4. How much would a flat in Sydney (city) 2 bedrooms cost (roughly).

The Sydney Metropolitan area is a BIG place. If you want to live near Sydney City (rather than in the suburbs), it will be expensive. If you go to the suburbs, it will be cheaper. If you go to more regional centres (e.g., Newcastle, Wollongong, etc.) it will cheaper still.

Alternatively, you might want to live somewhere away from Sydney (Australia is a BIG place -- as large as the USA).

5. Do you think I should do it ?, I mean do you think my god why does he want to come here when you read this ?

IMHO, Australia is a great place to live.

6. Any more info on costs you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

I suggest that you get a Loney Planets Guide to Australia. It will give you a good idea of a lot of locations and the prices.

Regards.

[flaninacupboard]

If you go to more regional centres (e.g., Newcastle, Wollongong, etc.) it will cheaper still.

I guess they took more than the name with them then

[Hardcoreruss]

Cheers Vitualis

[Will Hay]

Bear in mind I will have the missus with me, nothing will touch me with that on me arm. And when the monster in law is over that is double the protection !!! :P

Me and and the beast from Bodmin Moor are contemplating emmigrating

Promise me one thing...
....if you do go to Australia, don't ever, ever stop posting at dvdrhelp.com
Will

[Hardcoreruss]

Bear in mind I will have the missus with me, nothing will touch me with that on me arm. And when the monster in law is over that is double the protection !!! :P

Me and and the beast from Bodmin Moor are contemplating emmigrating

Promise me one thing...
....if you do go to Australia, don't ever, ever stop posting at dvdrhelp.com
Will

I am getting a digital camera soon I will post some pictures of the beast and also of the monster in law, now that IS scary.

[Will Hay]

I am getting a digital camera soon I will post some pictures of the beast and also of the monster in law, now that IS scary.

As long as they're fully clothed and you give me warning before I look at the post = no problem
Will

[Hardcoreruss]

I am getting a digital camera soon I will post some pictures of the beast and also of the monster in law, now that IS scary.

As long as they're fully clothed and you give me warning before I look at the post = no problem
Will

Okay its a deal, The monster was over (she lives in the States) and she refuses to shave her pits. It was like having dinner with Giant Haystacks, scared the living shite after me, and they say daughters turn into their mothers, I am going to HAVE to bugger off.