halloween

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Thanks 4MyEgo ...  that's explains it in basic to me, now I understand.  One has to do everything possible to stay as an Australian resident,  however the way they could confirm or deny that is simply look at your exit and entry dates with Australian immigration.  As you said I assume most just think it's a matter of telling them ..'yes'  i'm a resident .. and they think all will be ok, but that won't be the case as they will check into it.

 

$400 pw is good, I didn't realize it was that much so definitely will pay all expenses and more in Thailand.  Anyway, for me it's still 10+ yrs away so plenty of time and things could change by then. I'll chat again on the rentals with you as things develop ...

cheers. I really hate the government more than you. lol

I had some thoughts about going back to Oz each year and working 5 or 6 weeks. You are allowed to earn $125/week on OAP without losing any payment, and this can accumulate for up to a year ($6500). The fly in the ointment is the 32.5c/$ tax as I would no longer be a tax resident.

BUT my accountant suggests I put a submission to the ATO that I am planning to do a lot of travelling (in excess of 185 days/year) but still want to remain a tax resident. In his view the ATO prefers to keep you a resident so they have a claim over offshore earnings and are likely to grant this. Once granted, unless stated otherwise, you remain a tax resident until they inform you that your status is revoked, which could be years as hardly a high attention matter.

You would have to convince them that you are maintaining residency with an address, phone number, bank a/c, licence, even club memberships.

On 10/05/2017 at 10:45 AM, 4MyEgo said:

Yes, from my quick read over several articles, you were always required to have had to of worked in Oz for at least 10 years before you could get a part pension, i.e. 10 over 35 years of working life of the full aged pension, i.e. you would receive around a 3rd of the pension, now its moving to 15 years, so after 15 years of working continuously you will receive 15 over 35 years of a part pension.

 

So if you have worked 35 years your in, i.e. full pension, anything under that has to be above 15 years to be considered to get the part pension, but it has to be continuous.

 

Let's not forget if you are living abroad and under the pension entitlement age, you will have to return when you hit the magic age, i.e. 65, 67 depending when you were born, make your application, and once approved, remain in the land of slavery for 2 years before you can make it portable, i.e. take it with you, if you leave before hand, they will cut it and you will have to start the 2 years again, so I have heard.

 

 

As an alternative to the 2 year BS, I have been returning (and working) for at least 185 days each year for the last 3, with 1 to go. Tax office says that makes me a resident (with $18,200 tax concession) and by the time I claim pension will have spent 2+ years in country. Can't see how C/L can say I am not a resident when the Tax says I am, and I will have the 2 year actual residency if they want it.

I was lucky in that OAP entitlement begins 2 weeks after I normally come back here.

I want to open a Thai bank a/c and assume I will need a type O visa. Previously I could obtain a double entry O from Brisbane consulate as I have family here (twin step-daughters, wife deceased) with a show of available funds, but it is now closed permanently.

I work just over 6 months in Oz, the rest here, with a house leased by the year, and Thai g/f of 10+ years that I support. I will be retiring here in about 18 months, and want to start transferring funds to a Thai a/c.

Will Penang accept the need to open a bank a/c prior to retirement as grounds to issue a single O? Can show B200,000+ in Oz a/c, lease documents, possibly statement from g/f.

It was around 6ft below high water mark when I visited 7 weeks ago, seems like a big drop in that time.

The usable water in a dam is at the top. Multiply that 2m by the area of the dam surface, and you will have an approximation of the volume of usable water that is missing, remembering that the area will increase as the level rises.

The feasibility to draw water is purely an engineering issue. You collect it, hold it and divert it. And by the cost estimates and draw projections, already a done deal.

Less clear and perhaps not considered to any degree is the hydrology of the watershed to actually sustain a new drawdown without causing serious environment and economic damage to the region upstream and downstream. The government's approach to water managemtn such as with these two projects thus far appears to be a mindless socia-economic bent.Thus, well within the capability of the military.

An attempt to supply water where it is needed is "a mindless socia-economic (sic) bent" , but only when everything you do is viewed negatively.

I'm sure article 44 can resolve this.

And I'm sure that the previous government, that was in power for most of two decades did nothing to further water management practices. I'm also fairly sure that Yingluck unnecessarily lowered the water levels in the country's largest dams to prevent flooding in Bangkok.

Oh god, here we go again with another rant about the previous government. Dude get over it, its been 20 months already. Move along with your life, you're not getting any younger.

Your argument might have some merit if the dams had managed to refill since then. But they haven't, and the unnecessary dumping of a huge volume of water is part of the Yingluk legacy.

The world price is the price, but this may lead the dangerous rubber tree growers to think there is something being done for them and may hold them off until it becomes the next administration's problem. Or they could subsidise the price as was done for rice in the recent past.

"they could subsidise the price as was done for rice in the recent past."

Actually, Prayut essentially subsidized rubber prices with the Rubber Buffer Stock program. This is apart from the several subsidies paid to farmers to lower their cost of production.

Under this program the government would buy rubber from the farmers at above market prices, ie., 60 Bt/kg, hold it in warehouses until demand drives the price higher and allowing the government to recoup its cost - similar to the Yingluck rice pledge program.

In fact subsequently the government sold to two chinese state-owned companies 400,000 tons of rubber at 60 Bt/kg that is higher than the market price of about 34 Bt/kg. This is a reasonably suspicious deal that is perhaps more motivated by foreign politics than real demand.

The big difference is that the assistance is limited. They are not prepared to lose huge amounts of taxpayers' money to maintain their popularity.

Now Eric, try not to be musteline. The words you used were "proper qualified politicians" and I wait expectantly for you to start giving examples from the PTP All-Stars.

Really not hard to see that the current lot of ministers are not in the same class as previous government except for Somkid from an incumbent past PTP related party. Worse, these present lot not even true representative of the people. Maybe that's why they find no motivation to work as they need not seek re-election.

And aren't we glad they aren't in the same class as Chalerm, Boonsong of G2G fame, Nattuwat supplying trucks to move the rice, and the highly qualified Yingluk with not a day of public service and a history of perjury.

Not a thoughtful suggestion. He should place more emphasis on R&D to expand rubber use. More importantly, he should seek cooperation from the tripartite arrangement with Indonesia and Malaysia on pricing and supply. 3 of them accounts for about 80-85% of world rubber production. He should just stick to being a soldier and let proper qualified politicians govern.

Could you expand on the concept of "proper qualified politicians" please. Should be highly amusing.

You find the concept of proper elected politicians amusing?

Now Eric, try not to be musteline. The words you used were "proper qualified politicians" and I wait expectantly for you to start giving examples from the PTP All-Stars.

I doubt I would be changing countries (and continents) based on a fluff article. Then again I have enough electrical generation/distribution experience to understand the grid control problems posed by uncontrolled inputs and the need for some form of energy storage.

Not a thoughtful suggestion. He should place more emphasis on R&D to expand rubber use. More importantly, he should seek cooperation from the tripartite arrangement with Indonesia and Malaysia on pricing and supply. 3 of them accounts for about 80-85% of world rubber production. He should just stick to being a soldier and let proper qualified politicians govern.

Could you expand on the concept of "proper qualified politicians" please. Should be highly amusing.

No surprise if it turns out to be a dog

Wow - a Junta supporter. I thought that there were none left, that they had all realised the error of their ways and slunk off.

To your point, I agree that submarines are essential spending for Thailand, and are much more important than the welfare of rubber farmers. The rubber farmers, and assorted peasantry from the south, came in useful for blocking roads during the protests for months on end, in the sweltering heat. Now that the military is in absolute control, who cares?

Are you somehow under the impression that PTP's rice scam worked out well for rice farmers, or for the national finances?

Why would you repeat the same mistake for a different commodity? Expecting a different result?

"........100,000 baht income per month from 5 rais of cultivation......."

IF this figure is accurate, why is anybody growing rice?

Last I read farm income was about 10% of GDP - roughly the same as tourism.?

The more important statistic is the 64% population is in some form of agricultural produces from rubber, rice to fisheries. All these sectors are being hit hard and lots of unemployed and poverty stricken farmers. When the pain hits bottom and nothing to lose, this can manifest into something that can lead to dire consequences and violence. IMHO, the Junta will blink first and will bow to farmer demands albeit some compromises which will trigger other farming sectors to also press their demands. He crave for the job, now he deal with it. Karma is a bitch.

And yet other industries import labour from surrounding countries.Do you see a solution to the problem there? Probably not.

BTW as a youth it was impressed on me that primary industry ALWAYS offers the lowest wages, even lower than the military.

Prayut is such a funny man.

As rubber farmers complain about the delay in his government subsidy of 1,500 baht per rai (owners receive 60% of the subsidy or Bt900 per rai, while workers receive the remaining 40% or Bt600 per rai), he says that it is against government policy for price sibsidies.

In fact Prayut has attempted to artifically shore up rubber prices trhoughout 2014 (Bt10 billion budget) and 2015, notably with above market prices in G2G sale of rubber to the Chinese Hainan company and in Prayut's Rubber Buffer Stock Program that operates on similar principles of Yingluck's pledge rice program. Obviously, the world market didn't pay attention.

The political support of the pro-royalist Southern rubber farmers is too important for the NCPO to ignore. Paryut will find a way to mollify their demands. Perhaps another large sale to Russian at above market prices, albeit a barter for more military weapons.

A great example of responsible government, right? Putting reasonable limits on the amount of support available is far more responsible than running up huge debts and stockpiles, and planning to borrow even larger amounts to allow unsustainable schemes continue without parliamentary oversight.

I wander if she is smart enough to know the difference between "no" and "know"/

Very many Thais have difficulty differentiating between "r" and "l" when pronouncing English words. Perhaps you shouldn't take it as an indicator of a lack of political acuity?

Not only English but Thai as well. But it is not so much difficulty as laziness and/or lack of education.

I am confused. I have just finished replying to a post of yours decrying alleged junta populism, and now you are advocating it? Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.

But isn't it good to see a government that says it has limited funds? Or should Prayuth propose borrowing B2.2 trillion to prop up his popularity?

I know you are confused, and I know that you can't help it. Good luck in life, you need it.

So did you decry Junta populism in a previous post while here you are advocating it?

If you reply please address what I said instead if ignoring it and then belittling me. (like you did with halloween).

halloween is a disagreeable, insulting troll who purposefully feigns not understanding posts, misrepresents them, and then attacks the poster for his imaginary position.

Personally, the junta should not be in the position to make any decisions in Thailand, but should immediately return sovereignty to the Thai people and let them sort out their own issues.

And the points which Halloween so wilfully misunderstands is where I point out the hypocrisy of the junta when they decry as "populist" policies which help millions of Thais and which the junta attempts to cut off or eliminate, while on the other hand giving away huge amounts of money to people who the junta needs to maintain any semblance of support in the country.

BTW, in my post above, I merely point out the obvious lies and false choice that the self-appointed "PM" is presenting. Whether or not a (real) government in Thailand should provide a more stable economic environment for rubber, rice, or other farmers was not addressed. Personally, I have no problem with a government intervening in the agricultural sector to stablize a market that is global and volatile in nature. On the other hand, most governments don't do a very good job at it - example, the rice programs in Thailand... not just the last debacle, but a series of them by several different governments.

I have to point out, without resorting to insult, that you have religiously failed to decry PTP's unsustainable populist policies because they were presented at an election, but condemn any action of the junta, either farmer support or denial of it, simply because they are the junta. And the reason you so often state is their illegitimacy, rather than any view on the nature of the policy.

Perhaps when you get over your "democratic ideal" which you extend to any elected government, no matter how shonky, you might realise that the junta are doing a reasonable job while the much needed reforms are made to the Thai political scene.

I thought night activities were already a major part of Thai tourism.

PTP could perform this type of economic magic, why can't the junta? Probably because they don't want a similar result.

Was it not Chalerm who gave Thaksin his first real break? Supplying PCs to the police?

He's been under Thaksin's umbrella ever since

Not sure if Chalerm had anything to do with the corrupt contracts that gave Thaksin his start, but he doesn't need any protection from that quarter. He's protected because he knows where all the bodies are buried, and the powers that be believe he has evidence tucked away in places where it will be made public if anything happens to him.

It was licence for a cable TV company, denied by the previous government, granted by Chalerm.

Crook or otherwise, most observers will note the ongoing one-sidedness in the investigations of the graft-busters. The junta had the opportunity to be seen as a govt for all Thais by acting without fear or favour. They failed the test and that ship has now sailed. Chalerm is irrelevant really, it's the non-pursuit of crooks on the other side that highlight the hypocrisy.

Why should they ignore such a blatantly corrupt person? How about a few words about the people that appointed this scum to DPM, allowed him high ranking on the party list, and turned a blind eye to his perverting of justice to save his murderous offspring?

This man has run amok for decades, aided and abetted by his criminal associates, and impervious to the rule of law.

This will be interesting..would be great if they got something on him and take away (some) of his wealth.

Absolutely. This guy is as bent as they come and if they start digging I'm pretty sure they will find all kinds of nastiness. Too bad that those who support the administration will not be touched.

Maybe the most bent and disgraceful scumbags really do belong to Pheu-Thai ?. Remember the 310:0 amnesty disgrace ?.

That's 310 definites. Whereas you people only have Suthep to counter with. And even he stood up and risked his life to do the right thing against the amnesty bill which is far more than any of the dirty cronies would have done.

Or is that possibility off the table ?.

All together now : fingers in ears, eyes closed and keep saying "Bangkok elite, Bangkok elite .."

Maybe the most bent and disgraceful scumbags really do belong to Pheu-Thai ?.

You conveniently "forgot" that Chalerm started his political career as a MP for the Democrat Party...................................

........until someone made him a better offer. He also has a long history of corruption involving his "little mate".

Clearly I was wrong.

What is your problem, JOC?

This man isn't a popular activist for peasant's rights, he's everything that is bad about Thailand across the colour line.

I agree, he is as bad as they come.

But I know for a fact, that he comes from a family, who have been wealthy for generations. The wealth created by running private schools and selling land in Bkk, land they bought decades ago.

So if money is missing from the till, Chalerm would have no reason to enrich himself.

Do you really think, he would drive a pink Bentley, if he had something to hide? He might be an old drunk political dinosaur, but make no mistake, he is not stupid!!

So to me this assets check, has a clear political undertone.

Maybe a favor to the juntas pawn Suthep.......................... (He and Chalerm have been at odds for decades.)

Before vehicles are released, the owner should have to present the registration book with the paperwork to show tax and insurance paid.