All Aussie Related Stuff (excluding the old age pension)

[Nemises]

Aus Magistrate aged “late 60’s” to marry 23yo court clerk!

Would never happen here [emoji3]

[AussieBob18]

7 hours ago, tifino said:

let's leave it up to her, as she's next going to have to explain to the cops, and her boss! - it's a work car...

 

First suggestion was wet and windy roads 555 

 

But really it is not as interesting as to Why she did it but How? - as the next video stream just concentrates on the unedited motions...

mustang driven up a pole  

 

Funnily Mustangs worldwide are very popular breeds for bending or cutting in half!

Yep - Mustangs are a massively over priced car built using old technology and safety.   ANCAP gave them 2 stars for safety - until in 2018 when they 'upgraded' the rubbish and it got 3 stars.   Toyota Corrolla gets 5 stars - asd does most vehicles these days.  Absolute rubbish car that sounds good and goes fast (in straight line) - bought by idiots IMO.

 

 

[4MyEgo]

Just returned from a trip to Sydney with the family after living here since late 2015.

 

We had returned to Sydney twice since then, a year ago and 18 months prior to that, just for short stay, e.g. a week, visiting the usual doctors/specialists, thanks to Medicare and then topping up on my meds thanks to the PBS system, catching up with some family, friends, and doing some work on the odd day here and there for clients wanting to use my services while I was there.

 

But this time we thoroughly enjoyed Sydney, probably because it was more a holiday and the fact that we stayed a little longer, and that I took full advantage of a jam packed itinerary so that the kids could get to see a lot of Sydney and outer Sydney with the use of a minivan, no expenses apart from the train and ferry on a Sunday, i.e. $2.80 per head all day long.

 

Prior to leaving Sydney in 2015 you could say I was exhausted from working like a slave to make a crust, planning and saving to move to Thailand (10 year plan), and it worked well to date, that said, the shine here in Thailand has over the last year or so started to take it toll, even with trips away with the family to Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai didn't do anything for me, although we all enjoyed Hua Hin and Chiang Mai (out of smoke season), but I have to say, Sydney is starting to look good, the cleanliness, the fresh air, the public transport system, the food, and the prices of most things are affordable, all though I will say, everyone I spoke to was stressed or cursing the cost of living, that said, they are probably where I was before moving here to Thailand, mortgage, long hours, etc etc.

 

Sure Sydney is expensive, rent wise or buying property, but if one could just get over that hurdle, from what I have seen, is that clothes are cheaper than in Thailand, food is pretty much on par, talking the imported stuff we buy here, as for eating out, well that's a no brainer, 2 steaks with 2 beers and 2 reds in a pub, came to 1,721 baht or $85, but most times we took cut lunches with us and ate at home when we weren't taking friends out to dinner as the wife likes to cook, no complaints here, gotta also say that he education and health system in Australia cannot be compared to here.

 

Thailand when I first came here for a visit in 2005 was a paradise IMO, but what I failed to see back in Oz was that I had a paradise in my own back yard, too busy to realise it working long hours to make a crust, pay a mortgage and save, but now that I am cash rich, I am seriously thinking about moving back, wife is already there (in her mind), just got to do the math and look at where one would stay because I like where we used to live before, about 15km's out of Sydney, near the beaches and bays, but paying 65,000 baht a month for a place to live is crazy, affordable, but crazy when it costs me nothing to live here rent wise, of which that rental money is our survival money here per month, add to that holidays and private health cover, so around 100,000 a month, less if I want to curve it in.

 

Caught between a rock and a hard place, but going to have to start putting pen to paper, am I delusional, or do others find themselves feeling that they miss the nanny state when comparing life here, don't hold back, it may well be that I need a reality check, but I am sure I would enjoy Sydney as a self funded retiree, especially not having to do the TM30, TM47 and annual extension, breath in the smoke filled air here in Issan and eat the chemicals from the food.

 

Just thinking out loud.

[Stew41]

On 8/10/2018 at 5:08 PM, 4MyEgo said:

1) Smart move

2) You can get it when you reach preservation age, between 55-60 tax free if your fund has already taxed you on the way in and 90% do, one condition, you have to tell them that you are retired, otherwise you wait till your 60, no conditions and tax free, no implications for non residents regarding tax unless you tax it before preservation age.

3) If you didn't cancel your Medicare card you would have found that it would still work, and would still work as long as you kept renewing it

7) Smart move zero tax

 

As for doing tax returns in Australia, my advice was that I didn't need to unless I was making an income from Australia which I do on a consultancy basis, so its odd that you still do tax returns, unless you still make income from Australia ?

 

Still have ~$50k in dividend income p.a in Oz thus go through the motions of returns.....

[steven100]

Extreme weather conditions bring catastrophic conditions out of control.

Australia under emergency bushfire attack …. from Tenterfield south to Foster …..

[moojar]

^ Yeah I'm in Sydney, very windy and temps still in the high 20s at 5pm.  It's the wind that's the killer, on top of the drought - there are towns in western NSW that have run out of drinking water. Even Sydney dams have fallen below 50% full, the desal plant is being brought online.  (Added to our water bills of course.) 

 

Meanwhile 12c and raining in Melbourne right now - for once we need a bit of "Melbourne weather".  ????  

[oznomad]

Found this yesterday, which is worthy of a read for those with tax residency issues.

As far as I can see, it is still to be acted upon.

 

https://cdn.tspace.gov.au/uploads/sites/70/2018/09/BoT-Residency-Consulation-Guide-FINAL.pdf

[AussieBob18]

On 10/22/2019 at 2:18 PM, 4MyEgo said:

Caught between a rock and a hard place, but going to have to start putting pen to paper, am I delusional, or do others find themselves feeling that they miss the nanny state when comparing life here, don't hold back, it may well be that I need a reality check, but I am sure I would enjoy Sydney as a self funded retiree, especially not having to do the TM30, TM47 and annual extension, breath in the smoke filled air here in Issan and eat the chemicals from the food.

 

Just thinking out loud.

Reality Check - there are plusses and minuses in both countries.  After living together in Thailand for over 4 years, we came back to Australia (Qld in 2017).  There are lots of advantages here, but I miss the freedoms and feeling of Thailand - everything here is so 'controlled' - and there are useless deros and others everywhere.  In the end we have decided that in the future we will live in both - 6 months or so in each country.  Obviously when the 'end game' comes around, I want to be back here in Aus with all the world class and free medical services. And being ablke to come back here to Aus for all those benefits you mentioned is also a bonus for both of us.  And when you add to that the wife qualifiying for the pension and after 10 years living here is able to take it back with her after I have departed - bingo. 

 

My advice - look more into living in both places. I became a little negative about Thailand, especially all the smoke and the potential costs of medical bills, and the 'farang pricing' and immigration reporting and applications <deleted> - but once I was back here I sure missed Thailand.  As they say - you dont really know what you've got until it is gone.  So I say keep both.

 

[tifino]

19 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

after 10 years living here is able to take it back with her after I have departed - bingo. 

Noting that she herself would need to comply for herself, the residential (as a pensioner) time frame  requirements...

 

[4MyEgo]

13 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

My advice - look more into living in both places. I became a little negative about Thailand, especially all the smoke and the potential costs of medical bills, and the 'farang pricing' and immigration reporting and applications <deleted> - but once I was back here I sure missed Thailand.  As they say - you dont really know what you've got until it is gone.  So I say keep both.

Thx for your input mate.

 

Yes freedom is key, and the fact that we don't have any neighbours behind us and on one side we have a grandmother at least 20 metres away from us and on the other side 100 metres away from us, opposite is the river, so we have space and are not cramped like most places, especially if we returned.

 

The smoke, well am keeping an anxious eye out for the season to start and will assess how I handle it this season, already can smell the early morning burn from the night before, air filled with either mist or smoke, hard to tell at the moment, I assume both.

 

Having kids makes at school makes it hard to do the 6 months thing, so its either all in, or all out. Big move, big decision, although I am doing a comparison to the cost of living here and a cost of living back in Sydney, and to be honest, I don't see a huge difference, if you are one that doesn't eat out a lot, yes rent would be a big expense, but buying a property outright eliminates that problem, electricity would be higher, but council and water rates would be a sharp spike.

 

At the moment, have to keep enjoying it here and keep monitoring the spend and compare the good and the bad, as for the 6 months thing, don't think I would be able to manage that by the time the kids can fend for themselves, like I said, rock and a hard place, but as long as we don't have the smoke filled air, I'm good, Hua Hin might be another alternative.

[Salerno]

On 10/9/2019 at 1:22 PM, Nemises said:

Aus Magistrate aged “late 60’s” to marry 23yo court clerk!

Would never happen here [emoji3]
 

 

Wouldn't get the pressure that apparently drove her to suicide that's for sure.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-05/ashleigh-petrie-magistrate-rod-higgins-media-reports/11646754

 

RIP

[AussieBob18]

43 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

At the moment, have to keep enjoying it here and keep monitoring the spend and compare the good and the bad, as for the 6 months thing, don't think I would be able to manage that by the time the kids can fend for themselves, like I said, rock and a hard place, but as long as we don't have the smoke filled air, I'm good, Hua Hin might be another alternative.

I hear you but if you move will the kids come too? Or will they stay in Thailand in School and get looked after by the family?  We know a Thai lady here that has 2 kids back in Thailand being looked after - she sends the money needed of course - and she visits 3-4 times a year.  Her plan is to move back to Thailand when she gets older, or to move the kids here when they finish University.  She will probably move back 'home' I think.

 

Australia is more expensive than Thailand - even if you live frugally - but it is not as big a difference now with the Baht at 20 AUD. But the ability to earn money exists here - and as you get older there are lots of discounts on things like rates and electricity etc etc.  Sydney real estate is very expensive - try Queensland ????

 

[AussieBob18]

56 minutes ago, tifino said:

Noting that she herself would need to comply for herself, the residential (as a pensioner) time frame  requirements...

 

All good - she will be living here (net) for well over 10 years by the time she qualifies - by which time we will be here just about full-time anyway as I will be about 80.  After 10 years she would get 10/35 of OAP if living overseas, and that increases each year such that after 20 years (maybe) she would get 20/35 of the OAP. 

 

 

[moojar]

1 hour ago, AussieBob18 said:

My advice - look more into living in both places. I became a little negative about Thailand, especially all the smoke and the potential costs of medical bills, and the 'farang pricing' and immigration reporting and applications <deleted> - but once I was back here I sure missed Thailand.  As they say - you dont really know what you've got until it is gone.  So I say keep both.

I am starting to think like this. 

 

We have been planning our Thailand retirement for years, wife will go next year and me early the following.  But Thailand is not the utopia it was, and it seems to be getting worse year on year - the TM30 thing, the dodgy health insurance for pitiful coverage, a certain tone in the media - all in all starting to feel less welcome.  And yes, the Farang pricing does wear you down - even as a tourist I'm over having to stay out of sight lest my wife get hit with farang pricing too.  And Thailand is no longer cheap like it was anyway, as 4MyEgo pointed out a lot of stuff costs less in Oz now.  I don't know how khon Thai manage. 

 

So yeah, starting to think it's better to be a 'tourist' to Thailand for half of every year, spend the rest in Oz to maintain our residency and access to all those wonderful "nanny state" benefits like free decent medical, pension, subsidies for older people, etc.  We'll give ourselves two years full-time in Thailand before making a decision.  And I'm sure plenty of others are thinking along the same lines.  

[Salerno]

37 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

After 10 years she would get 10/35 of OAP if living overseas, and that increases each year such that after 20 years (maybe) she would get 20/35 of the OAP. 

Lost me there. If she qualifies for AAP and at the time she has been in Oz 10 years it won't increase after. Her pension will be 10/35ths onwards.

[4MyEgo]

37 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

I hear you but if you move will the kids come too? Or will they stay in Thailand in School and get looked after by the family?  We know a Thai lady here that has 2 kids back in Thailand being looked after - she sends the money needed of course - and she visits 3-4 times a year.  Her plan is to move back to Thailand when she gets older, or to move the kids here when they finish University.  She will probably move back 'home' I think.

 

Australia is more expensive than Thailand - even if you live frugally - but it is not as big a difference now with the Baht at 20 AUD. But the ability to earn money exists here - and as you get older there are lots of discounts on things like rates and electricity etc etc.  Sydney real estate is very expensive - try Queensland ????

 

Kids would be coming without a doubt as my wife's family wouldn't be capable of looking after them to our basic standards, i.e. the kids would go into shock while the family spends the money on them selves as has been proven once before when we left my wife's boys behind for a stint, but we won't go into that, the past is the past and we always move forward, but that was just to answer your question and give you an insight.

 

Yes I am sure it is more expensive, but marginally with the baht dropping if you live like a farang here, food wise (imports), Sydney real estate would be down 20-30% in pockets, and with family and friends there, it would be our preferred choice.

 

If I was ever to work again (self employed) as I was before, doing consultancy work, plus stock market as it is now, I could get the tax threshold of $18,200 for me and the wife being on the payroll, she would also get the $18,200 which would give us a head start start before having to pay any tax, that said, cash payments by some clients are also king and there are other ways around paying too much tax if you know what I mean, plus Centrelink provides Family A&B payments, not that I have received any before due to making above threshold requirements, but hey, paid enough taxes over my years to put my hand up, so it's something I would be willing to look at on top of the tax thresholds, Medicare would save me paying $6,000AUS in private health cover here for the family as well, so another factor, plus better education for the kids, although they are all doing really well here, if you can believe the school results, especially English papers that I have checked and found spelling errors that were ticked.

 

Rock and a hard place ?

[4MyEgo]

15 minutes ago, moojar said:

So yeah, starting to think it's better to be a 'tourist' to Thailand for half of every year, spend the rest in Oz to maintain our residency and access to all those wonderful "nanny state" benefits like free decent medical, pension, subsidies for older people, etc.  We'll give ourselves two years full-time in Thailand before making a decision. 

Being at the coalface for the past 4 years, I would think it is better to do 6/6 a year, if we didn't have kids, it wouldn't be an issue, but that said, have to think hard before making a final call, because the last thing I would want is to haul the kids back again.

[AussieBob18]

2 hours ago, moojar said:

I am starting to think like this. 

 

We have been planning our Thailand retirement for years, wife will go next year and me early the following.  But Thailand is not the utopia it was, and it seems to be getting worse year on year - the TM30 thing, the dodgy health insurance for pitiful coverage, a certain tone in the media - all in all starting to feel less welcome.  And yes, the Farang pricing does wear you down - even as a tourist I'm over having to stay out of sight lest my wife get hit with farang pricing too.  And Thailand is no longer cheap like it was anyway, as 4MyEgo pointed out a lot of stuff costs less in Oz now.  I don't know how khon Thai manage. 

 

So yeah, starting to think it's better to be a 'tourist' to Thailand for half of every year, spend the rest in Oz to maintain our residency and access to all those wonderful "nanny state" benefits like free decent medical, pension, subsidies for older people, etc.  We'll give ourselves two years full-time in Thailand before making a decision.  And I'm sure plenty of others are thinking along the same lines.  

I hear you - and I just learned another thing the nanny state gives me - a free set of glasses every 2 years. Not sure if it applies in NSW/VIC or elsewhere - but up here there are heaps of freebies for the older generations.  Like 4myego I also used to live in Sydney, and was in a NSW Regional City when we first moved back, but the weather was too cold so we moved to QLD.  Since I got here there are so many Qld Govt subsidies and discounted stuff for those over 60 - whether working or not. My rego and rates and electricity are discounted a lot, plus I get a lot of other discounts like at movies and in shops etc.  And those discounts get better when I get the pension.  I got stuff all in NSW and was used to that - clearly Qld targetted the retirees - and there sure are a lot up here - and now I can get new glasses for free.  I better start looking for what else I can get for free/discounted.

 

[AussieBob18]

2 hours ago, Salerno said:

Lost me there. If she qualifies for AAP and at the time she has been in Oz 10 years it won't increase after. Her pension will be 10/35ths onwards.

Better to give you a link - it all involves qualifying for the pension and taking it overseas - complicated.

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/age-pension/managing-your-payment/if-you-travel-outside-australia

 

 

[Salerno]

Not seeing what's complicated. Once you qualify for a pension the pro rata rate doesn't increase just because you live longer. DId I misinterpret your post?

 

3 hours ago, AussieBob18 said:

All good - she will be living here (net) for well over 10 years by the time she qualifies - by which time we will be here just about full-time anyway as I will be about 80.  After 10 years she would get 10/35 of OAP if living overseas, and that increases each year such that after 20 years (maybe) she would get 20/35 of the OAP.

 

 

[AussieBob18]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Kids would be coming without a doubt as my wife's family wouldn't be capable of looking after them to our basic standards, i.e. the kids would go into shock while the family spends the money on them selves as has been proven once before when we left my wife's boys behind for a stint, but we won't go into that, the past is the past and we always move forward, but that was just to answer your question and give you an insight.

 

Yes I am sure it is more expensive, but marginally with the baht dropping if you live like a farang here, food wise (imports), Sydney real estate would be down 20-30% in pockets, and with family and friends there, it would be our preferred choice.

 

If I was ever to work again (self employed) as I was before, doing consultancy work, plus stock market as it is now, I could get the tax threshold of $18,200 for me and the wife being on the payroll, she would also get the $18,200 which would give us a head start start before having to pay any tax, that said, cash payments by some clients are also king and there are other ways around paying too much tax if you know what I mean, plus Centrelink provides Family A&B payments, not that I have received any before due to making above threshold requirements, but hey, paid enough taxes over my years to put my hand up, so it's something I would be willing to look at on top of the tax thresholds, Medicare would save me paying $6,000AUS in private health cover here for the family as well, so another factor, plus better education for the kids, although they are all doing really well here, if you can believe the school results, especially English papers that I have checked and found spelling errors that were ticked.

 

Rock and a hard place ?

Mate - if the kids are coming then I would go for it - but that is only me.  I reckon an Aussie education would set them up for life - especially if they go to Uni - and even if they return to Thailand later it will have been all good.

Perhaps come back for another visit with them and see if they really like it and are OK to live there for a while.

Get someone to look after the property back in LOS of course, and if it doesnt work out then go back to Thailand.

More like you are stuck between two good choices - not the devil and the deep blue sea.

Take your time and keep thinking about it - the best choice (there is no 'right' choice) will come to you.

 

[tifino]

On 10/9/2019 at 1:22 PM, Nemises said:

Aus Magistrate aged “late 60’s” to marry 23yo court clerk!

Would never happen here [emoji3]

just a heads up, although I am sure, somewhere in the Forum? the news came out and possibly reached expats?

Ashleigh Petrie has since been killed in a automotive related roadside accident. 

Have not as yet heard any more, as to whether her being run over by a vehicle was intentional or not?

 - considering all the hype that arose from her 'above' situation.

The endings of each news broadcast; repeatedly drew attention to awareness against suicide... ????  

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, tifino said:

just a heads up, although I am sure, somewhere in the Forum? the news came out and possibly reached expats?

Ashleigh Petrie has since been killed in a automotive related roadside accident. 

Have not as yet heard any more, as to whether her being run over by a vehicle was intentional or not?

 - considering all the hype that arose from her 'above' situation.

The endings of each news broadcast; repeatedly drew attention to awareness against suicide... ????  

 

4 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

Wouldn't get the pressure that apparently drove her to suicide that's for sure.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-05/ashleigh-petrie-magistrate-rod-higgins-media-reports/11646754

 

RIP

 

[AussieBob18]

9 hours ago, Salerno said:

Not seeing what's complicated. Once you qualify for a pension the pro rata rate doesn't increase just because you live longer. DId I misinterpret your post?

 

I didnt make that clear did I. What I meant what she qualifies for the pension when she reaches the age - 67.  Then, as long as she has lived here 10 years (net) she qualifies to be able to leave Australia and keep the pension. But she does not get 100% of the pension - that is only for people who have lived in Australia for 35+ years. Living in Australia for 10 years is the minimum for 'portability' overseas - and after 10 it becomes a matter of how long she lives here before she leaves to decide what percentage she can take.  Therefore, 15 years means she gets 15/35 of the pension, etc etc.  So if I live to the late 80s she will be in the 70s and will have lived in Aust about 20 years, and so if she then returns to Thailand as expected after I pass on, she will be able to take 20/35 of the pension with her to Thailand - for the rest of her life.

[Salerno]

22 hours ago, AussieBob18 said:

after 10 it becomes a matter of how long she lives here before she leaves to decide what percentage she can take.

I think you'll find it doesn't.

 

The only relevant time of living in Australia (other than the qualifying 10 years for portability) is how long she's lived here when she turns 67. If she's lived in Australia for 15 years (as a permanent resident) when she turns 67 her pension will be pro rata 15/35ths. If she returns to Thailand 5 years later at age 72 her pension is still 15/35ths not 20/35ths.

[UncleMhee]

For anyone thinking of returning to Oz, I hope you have maintained a connection to what's going on over there. Here's just one fine example; Not!

Then there's the surveillance issues, having your devices seized and forensically investigated on the way through immigration, laws to put ADF on the streets pitted against citizens doing what is a democratic process; to engage in peaceful protest, causing civil disruption in order to be heard.

I left two years ago, keep up to date with the news and have no intention of ever returning.

Good luck over there fellas!

https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/morrison-intensifies-campaign-to-silence-australians/

 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, UncleMhee said:

For anyone thinking of returning to Oz, I hope you have maintained a connection to what's going on over there. Here's just one fine example; Not!

Then there's the surveillance issues, having your devices seized and forensically investigated on the way through immigration, laws to put ADF on the streets pitted against citizens doing what is a democratic process; to engage in peaceful protest, causing civil disruption in order to be heard.

I left two years ago, keep up to date with the news and have no intention of ever returning.

Good luck over there fellas!

https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/morrison-intensifies-campaign-to-silence-australians/

 

Are you saying every Australian returning to Australia has their devices searched, or is there a specific profile targeted, or ???

[UncleMhee]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Are you saying every Australian returning to Australia has their devices searched, or is there a specific profile targeted, or ???

I believe it's random though there possibly is profiling involved. There's plenty of media content out there. This link is the first report I came across a year or so ago.....a Brit software developer.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/25/sydney-airport-seizure-of-phone-and-laptop-alarming-say-privacy-groups

[Will27]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

Are you saying every Australian returning to Australia has their devices searched, or is there a specific profile targeted, or ???

That's been done by Customs for years.

 

Especially if the person has been in what they would could consider a

country for sex tourism or they have intel on the person.

[UncleMhee]

3 hours ago, Will27 said:

That's been done by Customs for years.

I think you may find they've upped the ante!