KhunHeineken

If you are using a VPN, don't forget that you have to manually change this every time. It catches me out a lot. I wish Skype would have a setting to enable or disable Country Code via IP Address.

Did you use the same patch lead. (1 m antenna cable between TV and wall plate) for your test in the bedroom? Maybe it's just the short connection lead that has failed.

Like others members say, I'm not so sure you have been hacked, but you might try downloading a free antivirus program, like AVG or Avast, and then run one of their deep scans? See what comes up.

You may be interested in this product. I own a set and the system works great, but you do need to plug the Home Proxy Dongle into a router at a friend's or relative's place, in your home country. https://www.homingsystems.com You can set up something similar with two Raspberry Pi's, but I bought a pair of these and they work well, especially for some streaming websites that have very strict geo blocking. The WiFi signal that the Companion Dongle emits, including the IP address and many other details, s as good as sitting in your lounge room back in your home country. Speeds a slower, but still fine to stream HD content. You only need to pay a subscription if you only buy the Home Proxy Dongle and then access it going through their servers. If you buy a set, you don't need a subscription. As another member said, you could have a friend or family member set up a VPN on their router for you, or you could buy something like this, plug it in to their router, and VPN back to it. They are cheap. https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-mt300n-v2/ If you buy two of these, you can make pretty much what the AlwaysHome system is also.

Good description. I would just add that many makes and models of UPS also top up incoming electricity if it is too low, which in my country is called a "brown out." Apparently, brown outs can also be quite damaging. Most of us have seen a light become dim, or flickering, for no reason. This is usually caused by low current. No problem for the light, but not real good for electronics, and particularly damaging to white good with motors in them, but you can't put a UPS on a frigde or washing machine.

It used to be that way, but in recent times, if you are on Centrelink, it's living the dream. Do retirees who are not on Centrelink get "rent assistant, electricity assistant, cheap bus fares and free travel to other cities 600km away" etc etc etc etc? Nah, they pay full freight.

Like I said, "Living the dream" but someone has to pick up the tab.

Centrelink - living the dream. ????

Yeah, great. The Australian tax payer, many of whom don't even own a property, subsidizes a Victorian government initiative, through negative gearing.

Let's hope you are not awoken from your sleep, should these changes come in, and have a negative impact.

What's the point, if the immigration data base now talks to the tax office data base and the welfare data base?

Plan is already in place. Worked it out with the accountant. A few scenarios have been planned for. I hope I never have to use one of them. Good Luck to all of us with these proposed changes.

Yes. You are right. The proposed changes are still just that, proposed. They have not been passed yet. Some have said they will simply wait until they fizz away, or are passed into law, to make their moves. I like to make a plan for the fizz, or the passed, and be ready to jump straight away, when the time comes.

I'll spell it out for you. Yes, 65 for many, 67 for some, probably older for those in the future. No argument from me about this. Say, the Australian government announces the proposed changes have been passed, and will come into effect starting 1st July 2024, but, those already overseas for more than 3 or 6 months will be "grandfathered" and their tax residence status will not change under the new laws. Those that are 65 and on the pension, and always wanted to retire to Thailand, would leave Australia for Thailand in order to take advantage of any "grandfathering" that may be offered. Why wouldn't they? I think it would cause a spike in departures for those over 65, but not ready to retire, or sitting on the fence. Those people would be crazy not to take advantage of any possible "grandfathering" hence a spike 65 year olds leaving the work force and leaving Australia. Get it?

Yeah, and many people don't like change, but why shoot the messenger?

Same here, but the data bases are starting to line up. What one organization (Eg. bank) knows about you and your finances is now starting to talk to government departments (Eg. Centerlink, ATO, Land Titles Office etc) and vice versa.

Did you miss the part about living off saving for a while in order to qualify for any "grandfathering?"

Talking about the lottery, read this yesterday. Just goes to show how quickly Centerlink can change your status. One day you are a disability pensioner, the next day you are a professional gambler. ???? https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/australian-disability-pensioner-unlucky-lotto-winner/99ffb30d-9c47-4cf4-8d5c-5a7d34d2a775

I see the UK raised by 0.75% yesterday as well. December's rise will be interesting. It's obvious 0.25% is having no impact on inflation, and is only shielding mortgage holders from the inevitable.

It was just a thought. I remember seeing it in my online banking. I just had a look and you can enter your TFN, or edit it, but when I clicked "edit" the old number didn't come up and you had to enter a new number. Maybe the OP's bank is different. Worth a look, for all of 30 seconds.

What's your definition of a "rush?" Do you think I mean millions of pensioners? Of course not. As with everything, if new restrictive, costly, prohibitive laws are coming in, people submit their application, for example, before the laws come in. Example, you have a 65 year old single Aussie guy who has recent retired and who has had two holidays to Thailand a year, for the last several years, except for covid. He has always wanted to retire in Thailand, but isn't quite ready yet. He is then informed that "grandfathering" is only on offer to those outside of Australia for 3 months or more, and receiving a pension, as of 1st July 2023. He then leaves Australia in February 2023 in order to qualify. Wouldn't you? Then there are the guys who are 62, 63, 64 who can survive on savings until 65, who might also jump to set up the "grandfathering" for the future. Wouldn't you consider doing the same, especially as people are living longer, and non-resident tax rates are so high? Can you see how grandfathering, in this instance, makes an incentive for people to leave Australia? Perhaps your definition of a few more is my definition of a rush.

Did he ask to borrow some money from you? ????

TFN's are like a Driver's License number, you only get one. If you need to start the ball rolling before you return, go into your online Australian bank account. Fair chance you told your bank your TFN, otherwise they would have taxed your interest at 48%. You should be able to dig up your TFN that way. Hell of a time to be returning to Australia, after 15 years away. Good Luck.

I agree with your summary. The RBA's baby steps to try and kerb inflation is too little, and too slow. The Fed raised by 0.75 yesterday. The RBA will use the excuse that they are treading softly so as to not push Australia into a recession, but they are still fueling inflation, whilst waiting for a miracle to prop up Australia's housing market. You are correct, if they do what really needs to be done to reign in inflation, then they would be increasing rates higher, and faster, but if they do that, Australia's housing market collapses, and there will be homeless people all across the country. Don't increase rates, watch inflation continue to grow, the AUD slump, and imports, which given Australia doesn't manufacture much anymore, increase significantly. Australia's housing market is as you say, a Ponzi scheme which is now holding the country to ransom.

Negative gearing had a big role to play in it. Mum and Dad investors got onto the gravy train that they could use the Australian tax payer to help fund their investment in residential housing. Negative gearing was originally about having investors supply houses for renters. It became a rort where people went on to negative gear a small portfolio of properties, as there were no limits on it. Now, in 2022, look at the result, fueled by a decade of cheap money. Australians had a chance to vote against negative gearing, but there were too many voters on the gravy train. Negative gearing has a role to play, but it should have limits, like no more than two investment properties per title holder, or no more than $3 million worth of property, or something like this. There was something like 25,000 houses in mortgage stress across Australia prior to covid. That figure will quadruple, if not more, over the next 12 to 18 months. Greed and easy money saw them borrow to the hilt, because they could. Now they are facing rapidly rising costs, and negative equity. The cliff is fast approaching for many.