ANZ Outlook / Issue 10

Western Australia wants you!


Darwin:

Fed up with Britain? The Western Australian

Local Government is crying out for highly

skilled migrants from the UK

1010

The Australian dreamBritish interest in Antipodean property continues to soar

Expat profileMatt’s story

PLUS Migration news, Ask the Expert, Economic guide, What’s on…

Chris Farnell

visits the Northern

Territory’s capital

AN EVOLVING CITY

Travel even further with taxback.com

Global Income Tax RefundsTaxback.com provides income tax returns from 16 countries and is a registered agent of HM Revenue & Customs.

Text ‘Cash’ to 84555Freephone 0808 2381 611Email [email protected] www.taxback.com/anzoutlook

Have you worked in the UK and paid PAYE tax? If so, contact us for a FREE TAX ESTIMATION to see how much you can get back and boost your travel budget.

We providetax refunds forthe following

countries

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK

Are you bored with life in the UK? Do you want to start a new one Down Under? If so, then this is the magazine for you.

Australia tops the polls when it comes to which countries most Britons would choose to emigrate to and its desirability stems from so many factors - it is a country where the quality of life is very high, the employment prospects are plentiful, the education available is world class and the healthcare facilities are very good.

On page 22, we have a fascinating piece from Declan Clune, Registered Migration Agent with Visafi rst. He talks openly about the opportunities for Brits in Western Australia, a state full of opportunity, but which is currently threatened by massive skills shortages.

This month we also look at the Northern Territory’s capital Darwin, the big events happening Down Under, talk to expats about their experiences and assess the current state of Australia’s economy. We’ve got news, essential travel information, expert advice and top tips for making a new life Down Under too.

The journey starts here!

Ian ArmitageEditor

EDITORIALEditor: Ian ArmitageWriters: Colin ChineryChris Farnell

BUSINESS General Manager: Andy EllisResearch Manager: Andy WilliamsResearchers: Nicholas DaviesElle WatsonDave HodgsonChris BolderstoneStuart ShirraSales Administrator: Abby Nightingale

ACCOUNTSFinancial Controller: Nick CramptonAccounts: Margaret Roberts, Alexandra Buchlakova

PRODUCTION & DESIGNMagazine Design: Optic JuiceProduction Manager: Jon CookePictures: Getty Images, ThinkstockNews: AAP, SAPA, NZPA

DIGITAL & ITHead of digital marketing and development : Syed Ahmad

TNT PUBLISHINGCEO: Kevin EllisChairman: Ken HurstPublisher: TNT Publishing Ltd

Australia and New Zealand Outlook, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SFTNT Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London.SW1P 1SBTntmagazine.com

ENQUIRIESTel: +44 (0)1603 3432267Fax: +44 (0)1603 283602Email: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONSCall: +44 (0)1603 343267Email: [email protected]

www.anzoutlook.com

03

capital Darwin, the big events happening Down Under, talk to expats about their experiences and assess the current state of

information, expert advice and top tips for making a new life

101010


www.anzout look.com04

CONTENTS

PAGE

28PAGE

24

PAGE36PAGE

40

PAGE

22

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK

06 News

12 Migration Update

16 What's on... Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month

18 Ask the expert Judith Gardner, Galya Bosolova and Stoyan Dimov of Taxback.com answer your questions

22 Western Australia wants YOU!Western Australia wants you says Declan Clune, Registered Migration Agent with Visafi rst

24 Expat profile: Matt's storyWith the job opportunities being what they have for the last few years, it’s not surprising that some students, decide that they’ll have better luck on the other side of the planet

28 Trekking in ThailandTrekking in Thailand – a great stopover destination - is gruelling but incredible, Carol Driver says

05

32 The Australian economy: boom or bust? Everyone seems to agree that things are looking good for Australia at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep an eye out for potential risks

36 Traveller's guide...DarwinChris Farnell visits Darwin

40 Buying property in Australia

British interest in Antipodean property continues to soar, says Ian Armitage

44 Next month

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

Western Australia wants you! Western

Australia wants you!

Darwin:

Fed up with Britain?

The Western Australian

Local Government is

crying out for highly

skilled migrants

from the UK

1010

The Australian dream

British interest in Antipodean property

continues to soar

Expat profileMatt’s story

PLUS Migration news, Ask the Expert,

Economic guide, What’s on…Chris Farnell

visits the Northern

Territory’s capital

AN EVOLVING CITY

NEWS

Three-time Australian Film Institute award winner David Ngoombujarra, known for roles in fi lms such as Crocodile Dundee II, Australia, Kangaroo Jack and Rabbit-Proof Fence, has been found dead near Perth in Western Australia. He was 44.

Ngoombujarra, one of the country’s best-known Aboriginal actors, was found dead in a park in Fremantle, the port city near Perth. Police said they are waiting for a toxicology report to determine the cause of death but say it was not suspicious.

A female referee apologised for missing an

obvious handball during the Matildas win over

Equatorial Guinea at the women’s World Cup

on Sunday.Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna caught and held on to

the ball for around two seconds following a Leena Khamis

effort which had rebounded off the woodwork, believing a

free-kick had been awarded.

She then let the ball drop to the ground but Hungarian

referee Gyoengyi Gaal waved play on.

Equatorial Guinea scored just fi ve minutes later.

The incident was also missed by the assistant referee.

Grounded Australian budget carrier Tiger Airways stopped ticket sales July 6 following pressure from the consumer regulator, which expressed surprise at how it could promise to deliver flights.

Tiger posted a notice on its website saying “flights have been temporarily removed from sale” due to its grounding by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over safety concerns.

“Discussions with CASA regarding a resumption of services are ongoing and constructive,” Tiger added.

Tiger was banned from fl ying domestically by aviation regulators over “serious and imminent” safety risks.

Three-time Australian Film

Western Australia. He was 44.

Crocodile Dundee star found dead Tiger Airways

stop ticket

sales


HANDBALL BLUNDER REF SAYS SORRY

AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK 07

The families of the 29 miners killed at New Zealand’s Pike River mine were celebrating June 28 after it emerged authorities had re-entered the mine.

The receivers of the now-defunct mining company had maintained gas levels were too high to allow a recovery operation, but it is now safe to enter.

The families spent months campaigning to have the bodies of those killed returned.

“It’s a good day, fi nally. A very good day,” said the local mayor Tony Kokshoorn as a team of recovery workers entered the doomed South Island coalmine for the fi rst time since the November 19 disaster.

“It feels like a new start.”The steps towards body recovery will be

slow, with families warned the technically diffi cult process of securing the mine and tunnelling around a rockfall to the work site 2.5km in could take up to two years.

Around 1800 professional fi refi ghters in New Zealand will go on a partial strike after the Fire Service refused to meet demands for an 8.9 percent pay increase.

Families celebrate Pike mine re-entry

NZ firefighters to go on strike

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

In the fi rst stage, teams of six New Zealand Mines Rescue workers will work in two-hour shifts to build an air seal 168m into the mine.

Statutory mine manager Steve Ellis said building the seal, effectively a 6.2-metre wide and 4.2-metre high plug, would be a tough job.

“It’s like building a house slab but vertically. You’d be struggling to do that outdoors. It’s a big job.”

The teams will work their way slowly into the mine, building more airlocks as they go, until they reach a rockfall shown on computer imagery about 2.3km in.

Kokshoorn, the mayor of Grey District, said the development softened the frustration many families were feeling.

“This is a new day. It’s all positive now,” he said.

“We’ve broken through now. We’re not looking down a hole. We’re in the hole.”

The strike action would not affect basic fi refi ghting jobs, but fi refi ghters will not be fi lling in the paperwork once they returned to the station, New Zealand Professional Firefi ghters Union president Steve Warner told NZPA.

Negotiations had been

ongoing for seven months.The Fire Service is

offering 2.5 percent but the union is seeking 3.75 percent pay increase back dated for the fi rst six months of this year and another fi ve percent increase for the following fi nancial year.

NEWS

Sydney residents have been offered A$7,000 to leave the city and resettle in rural New South Wales (NSW).

The NSW government is offering the fi nancial incentives to encourage families to go and live in the countryside.

Sydney already has some 4.5 million residents and is predicted to grow by 40 percent by the middle of the century.

Housing stocks are low, property prices

Sydneysiders offered cash to move


are high and the infrastructure is already buckling under the pressure.

It is hoped that the relocation grants will persuade people to ditch the beach for the bush and help boost rural areas.

Australia is one of the world’s most thinly populated countries, but almost a quarter of people live in Sydney, it’s most populous city

The A$7,000 (£4,700; $7,500) grants are to help people buy homes in the country.

SENATOR MARY JO FISHER ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING Flamboyant South Australian federal politician Mary Jo Fisher has been charged with allegedly stealing groceries from a supermarket and assaulting a security guard who apprehended her.

The Liberal Senator could face the loss of her Senate position if she is convicted of either charge in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Fisher will stand trial in September after being charged with one count of dishonestly taking property without the owner’s consent and one count of assault. The

Fisher will stand trial in charges will be contested.While the alleged offence

occurred on December 15 last year, she was only charged on summons on May 5 this year.

Australian Test Captain

MICHAEL CLARKE will not be playing

in the Big Bash League. Clarke revealed

he snubbed Cricket Australia’s revamped

Twenty20 competition and won’t play

in it this summer, choosing to focus on

international commitments. “With the

greatest respect to everybody involved in

the KFC T20 Big Bash League, I will not

be committing for this year,” the new Test

skipper said.

A Perth man who SEXUALLY ABUSED

six girls over a period of 15 years has been

jailed for nine and a half years. Steven

Robert Fuller, 55, pleaded guilty to 27

counts of child sex offences in the Perth

District Court. He molested the girls, who

were aged between seven and 16, over a

15-year period between 1987 and 2001.

A West Australian ANGLER has

been fi ned almost A$40,000 instead

of A$750 after failing to appear in

court to face charges of overfi shing

by more than 125kg. Trevor Waters,

46, was found guilty in absentia in

the Mandurah Magistrates Court of

illegally possessing 145.17kg of frozen

fi sh fi llets - 125.17kg over the 20kg

limit. He was fi ned a total of A$38,423

comprising a A$750 fi ne for the offence,

a mandatory additional penalty of

A$37,551 and costs of A$122.

N E W S I N B R I E FN E W S B R I E F


Injured Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown says he’s the victim of freakish accidents, not stupidity.

“I have been surprised and disappointed by some of the hysteria that has followed my season-ending injury,” Brown said in his Courier-Mail column.

“It’s the fi rst time in my life I’ve been carried from the ground with concussion, and suddenly I’m meant to be reckless, crazy, dangerous and irresponsible for letting my team down.

Brown dismisses calls for him to

change his AFL approach

ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

“I try to keep a pretty thick skin about this sort of thing, but ... this is a bit much.

“Yes, it’s disappointing I’ve copped a busted jaw for the second time this year, and will miss the last six games. Nobody feels that more than me. But it’s a pretty long bow to make me out as a serial offender.”

Critics had urged the Aussie hardman to change his fearless attacks on the ball following a spate of injuries.

skin about this sort of thing, but ...

NEWS

Australia’s two-time IRB Rugby World Cup winner John Eales has been inducted into the Wallabies Hall of Fame.

Eales made 86 Test appearances over a decade and captained the Wallabies 55 times.

Under his captaincy, the Wallabies won a World Cup 1999, four Bledisloe Cups from 1998 to 2001, two Tri-Nations trophies in 2000 and 2001, and claimed a series win against the British Lions in 2001.

He was also a member of Australia’s winning team in the 1991 World Cup fi nal at Twickenham.

Former Australia captain John Eales inducted into Wallabies Hall of Fame


The 41-year-old joins the likes of Ken Catchpole, John Hipwell, Mark Loane, Mark Ella, David Campese and Nick Farr-Jones in the Wallabies Hall of Fame.

Shane Watson will play for Sydney Sixers in the inaugural KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League.

The New South Wales all-rounder told Fox Sports News he was taken by the exciting

group of youngsters assembled by Sixers’ KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League team general manager, Stuart Clark.

“Stuart Clark and all the hierarchy at the Sydney Sixers have done brilliantly well to get the talent, young talent especially, that we’ve been able to assemble at the Sydney Sixers,” Watson said.

Shane Watson signs for Sydney SixersAustralia vice-captain Watson, one of the star players in the world in all three forms of the game, averages 41.55 with the bat in Test cricket, and 43.74 from 133 ODIs.

He posted 185 not out from 96 balls against Bangladesh in April 2011 - the highest ODI innings by an Australia player.

Get your tax refund with Worked abroad?

We providetax refunds forthe following

countries

For more information, call us now on Freephone 0808 2381 611, email us at [email protected], text ‘CASH’ to 84555 or visit us at www.taxback.com/anzoutlook

Surfing on Bondi Beach

Taxback.com organises income tax refunds from 16 countries for thousands of international workers every year. Register now at www.taxback.com/anzoutlook and get back all the taxes you’ve overpaid as well as any additional expenses you may be able to claim such as medical, education and work-related expenses. Average tax refunds for taxback.com customers are:

Australia = $2500 Belgium = €2300 USA = $800 Ireland = €840UK = £963 New Zealand = $550Canada = $904 Germany = €1020

If you worked in the UK before you left, you could also be due a refund of your UK taxes which means even more cash in your pocket. Our fast and secure tax service means all you need to do is sign the forms and then sit back and relax while we organise your refund and send the money straight to you – it’s that easy!

If you’d like to find out right now how much your refund could be, check out our FREE online tax refund calculator.

So whether you were a working holiday maker in Oz, an exchange visitor in the US, or an intern in Canada, register with taxback.com today and get some easy cash coming your way. The more countries you’ve worked in, the bigger your refund amount.

When you register, you’ll also receive access to a secure personal online Tax Tracker® account which allows you to upload payslips, download documents and monitor the step-by-step progress of your refund 24/7.

Don’t leave your hard-earned money behind! Register your refund application today and we can start processing your claim. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start spending.

Surfing on Bondi Beach

Sightseeing in Paris

Backpacking around Europe

Have you worked abroad in the last few years? Over 90% of people who work temporarily in a foreign country overpay tax and are due a tax refund. If you’ve worked abroad and haven’t yet applied for your tax refund, you could be seriously missing out.

migration update

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced an increase to salary thresholds that apply to the 457 visa programme.

The temporary skilled migration income threshold (TSMIT) will be indexed by 3.9 percent for all new nominations, in line with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on average weekly earnings.

The TSMIT will rise from A$47,480 to A$49,330, an increase that ensures salaries for subclass 457 visa holders keep pace with annual wage growth for all Australians.

This change leaves existing subclass 457 visa holders unaffected unless they change employer and require a new nomination.

“This annual change

ensures that new nominated salaries for the subclass 457 programme keep pace with wage inflation. If market salary rates for the position are below the new threshold, the position will not be eligible for the 457 programme,” a DIAC spokesman said.

Market salary rates, an integral part of the 457 programme, require employers to provide temporary skilled workers the same terms and conditions as Australians

who undertake equivalent work in the same workplace. This mitigates potential exploitation of foreign workers and prevents employers undercutting Australian wages and conditions.

“The 457 programme is highly responsive to the Australian labour market,” the spokesman added. “The department continues to make it clear that subclass 457 visa holders should not be employed ahead of local workers.”

ensures that new who undertake equivalent


457 visa threshold indexed to maintain wage growth

Sydney's growth areas to get 13,000 homes Transport and services must be in place when people move into the 13,000 new homes earmarked for Sydney’s major growth centres, businesses have warned.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced 10,000 homes will be built in Sydney’s northwest with another 3000 in the region’s southwest.

“Home ownership in Sydney remains a dream for many young families,” he said. “My government will build the homes Labour failed to provide and ensure residents have jobs and services on their doorstep.”

The decision has been met with cautious support from the Sydney Business Chamber, which says the government needs to also deliver jobs, services and public transport.

“The lesson to be learned from the previous government is to deliver jobs, services and transport when people move into their new homes, rather than fi ve, 10 or 20 years later,” said the organisation’s executive director Patricia Forsythe.

The plan is for an 1800 Ha site at Marsden, predominantly owned by Wintern property group, to contain 10,000 medium density homes.

Building is expected to start in about two years with the remaining 800 Ha set aside as open space.

Aus job market

strong, rate rise unlikely

The Australian jobs market is still strong, with full-time employment bouncing back in June from two months of losses.

The number of people with jobs rose by 23,400 in June, seasonally adjusted, driven by a 59,000 rise in full-time employment, reversing falls in the previous two months.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said that the unemployment rate stayed at 4.9 percent for the second month in a row in June, after it dipped in April to a two and a half year low of 4.8 percent.

The strong fi gures are however unlikely to prompt an interest rate rise from the central bank, say economists.

Rates have been kept on hold since last November.

Aus job market


Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under

migration update

Australian treasurer Wayne Swan says while there are “heightened risks” in the global economy, Australia’s medium term growth prospects are strong.

He was commenting after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) minutes from its July board meeting left economists believing there was a shift in the central bank’s tone regarding the interest rate outlook.

Swan said that despite problems in the global economy people shouldn’t lose sight that Australia’s medium term growth prospects remain strong, pointing to the

At 1700 AEST on July 22, the Aussie was trading at 108.34 US cents, up from 107.38 US cents.

It was strengthened after Greece’s second bailout package was announced.

The leaders of 17 European countries and the International Monetary Fund agreed to grant debt-riddled Greece a second bailout package worth 109 billion euros (A$145 billion), in addition to the 110 billion euros already granted last year.

Markets, appeased by the good news of a bailout

Outlook strong despite global risks: Swan

country’s low unemployment, strong job creation, record terms of trade and a huge pipeline of mining investment.

“There’s no doubt that recently we’ve seen heightened risks

in the global economy, and this is clearly having an impact on markets as well as consumers,” he said in a statement.

Swan added that the higher dollar and a cautious consumer are making things tough for some sectors, as was Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s “nation-wide fear campaign”, which can only make things tougher for businesses.

after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA)

country’s low unemployment,

that recently we’ve seen heightened risks

in the global economy, and


A$ stronger on Greek dealpackage to counter the Greek debt crisis, will now turn their focus to the outcome of US debt ceiling negotiations.

The Australian dollar traded between a low of 108.21 US cents and a high 108.48 US cents on July 22.


Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under

The strength of the New Zealand dollar has made the country a more expensive place for expatriates to move to, but it remains far cheaper than Australia.

In Mercer’s annual cost of living survey, Auckland has moved up to 118th place from 149 the year before, while Wellington rose to 136 from 163.

Sydney moved up 10 places to 14, Melbourne lifted from 33 to 21, Perth surged 30 places to rank 30, Canberra rose 40 places to 34, and Adelaide was up 44 places to 46.

Sarah Barnaby of Mercer said that rising costs, due to currency fl uctuations and natural disasters had presented challenges for multinational organisations managing workforces in New Zealand, but that did not diminish its appeal to expatriates or their employers.

NZ more expensive for expats, but

much cheaper

than OzThe strength of the Australian dollar is making Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane some of the world’s most expensive cities, according to a global survey.

It’s now cheaper to live in London, Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Hong Kong and Beijing than most Australian capitals, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey found.

Sydney is now the sixth priciest city in the world, up from 32nd place two years ago.

Melbourne jumped from 38th to seventh.Perth and Brisbane, meanwhile, are ranked 13th and 14th.Survey author Jon Copestake said the strength of Australia’s dollar

was partly to blame for skyrocketing living costs Down Under.“Rising domestic prices, partly due to rising oil and

commodity prices, have been compounded by the strength of the Australian dollar, which achieved parity with the US dollar earlier this year, compared to being worth around half that much 10 years ago,” Copestake said.

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey also found Australian cities were among the most expensive for business trips.

Copestake warned visitor numbers could be hit if Australia’s cost of living continued to escalate.

“Australia has long been an attractive destination, with Melbourne and Sydney becoming international cities in their own right,” he said.

Aussie cities becoming

world's priciest

What’s on...


Darwin Cup CarnivalDarwin, Northern TerritoryThe Darwin Cup Carnival offi cially kicks off on Saturday 2 July 2011 and culminates in the running of the Darwin Cup on Monday 1 August 2011. The programme also features Ladies Day, where the ladies can show off their fi nery and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a glass of bubbly.www.darwinturfclub.org.au

Melbourne International Film FestivalMelbourne, VictoriaThis iconic event has a devoted audience. The Melbourne International Film Festival is a feast of cinema, heavily garnished with parties and special events that envelop the CBD. It turns 60 this year, making it one of the oldest fi lm festivals in the world (one year younger than Cannes!).www.melbournefi lmfestival.com.au

Garma FestivalGove Penninsula, Nhulunbuy, Northern TerritoryGarma is a Yolngu word that describes a ‘two-way learning process’. Yolngu culture is one of the oldest living cultures on earth, stretching back over 40,000 years, and the Garma Festival is a celebration of that Yolngu cultural inheritance. www.garmafestival.com.au

2-1July Aug

21-7July Au

g

www.melbournefi lmfestival.com.au

Garma Festival

5-8AUG Aug

What’s on...


Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month

MELBOURNE CUP

Coffs Coast Cycle ChallengeCoffs Harbour Jetty, Coffs Harbour, New South WalesRotary Coffs City is holding the bcu Coffs Coast Cycle Challenge. The event is a ride of 100 kilometres starting and fi nishing at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores. The 2011 Challenge will have eight different categories to enter suiting all cyclists.www.coffscoastcyclechallenge.com

Audi Hamilton Island Race WeekHamilton Island, QueenslandSpectators and yachties from around the globe sail to Hamilton Island in August for Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, Australia’s largest annual offshore keelboat regatta. Race Week is one of Australia’s favourite yachting events and a fi rm fi xture on the international sailing calendar. www.hamiltonisland.com.au/events

Tri Nations (Bledisloe Cup): Australia vs New Zealand40 Castlemaine Street, Brisbane City, QueenslandThis, the fi nal match of the 2011 Tri Nations, is less than two weeks before the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The only other Tri Nations Test to be played in Australia will be when the Wallabies take on the Springboks (South Africa) at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on 23 July. The 2011 Tri Nations will be played over two rounds, home and away, as opposed to the current three rounds. Tickets available at Ticketek from 19 July.www.ticketek.com.au

7aug

27aug

19-27AUG Au

g

MELBOURNE CUP

ASK THE EXPERT

AJim, your move for the purpose of

permanent employment to Australia

will defi nitely change your status within

Australia. First step for you would be to

obtain a tax fi le number.

Assuming that you will remain in Australia for a long

period and be considered as resident for tax purposes – the

standard individual tax offi ce rates in Australia are:

You will be also liable to pay Superannuation if you are

Q I’m English and have lived in New Zealand for six years. I’m moving to Australia to work for my current employer (it will be a permanent move) and wondered how it’ll affect my tax position? Jim, Christchurch


Tax rates 2010-11

Taxable income Tax on this income

0 - A$6,000 Nil

A$6,001 - A$37,000 15c for each A$1 over A$6,000

A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each A$1

over A$37,000

A$80,001 - A$180,000 A$17,550 plus 37c for each A$1

over A$80,000

A$180,001 and over A$54,550 plus 45c for each A$1

over A$180,000

working in Australia and

your monthly wage is more

than A$450.00. In this case,

your employer will generally

contribute an amount equal to

nine percent of your wage into a

superannuation account for you.

As you will no longer be

a NZ tax resident and are

not going to receive income

from New Zealand from the

date you leave, you will need

to inform the New Zealand

Inland Revenue about the

change of your status in New

Zealand. You can state that

you are leaving New Zealand

permanently by fi lling in

a refund application and

submitting your IR50 form.

ABOUT THE EXPERTThese questions were answered by Judith

Gardner, UK Tax Manager, Galya Bosolova,

UK Tax Filing Team, and Stoyan Dimov,

Team Leader – Oz & New Zealand Tax,

Taxback.com. Contact details: Freephone

0808 2381 611, email [email protected], or

visit www.taxback.com/anzoutlook

Judith

over A$180,000

Q Am I taxed on monies I bring into Australia at the time I move? AnonQ

Anon

AThere is generally no tax on personal funds that you transfer to Australia,

however, any lump sum payments received from a pension that you have

transferred to Australia will be subject to tax in Australia. You should

also be aware that after you become resident for tax purposes, you will

be liable for Australian tax on your worldwide income, including overseas investment income

and capital gains.You can determine your residency status using the tool located at the following link:

http://calculators.ato.gov.au/scripts/axos/axos.asp?CONTEXT=&KBS=Resident.XR4&go=ok

AChris, unless you move to Australia for

a full tax year (i.e. you

leave before 6th of

April in one year and return after 5th April

the following year), then you are likely to

remain resident in the UK for tax purposes.

This means that you will remain liable to

UK tax on all your income during your time

in Australia, including any earnings for

work done while you are in Australia.

Your Australian earnings will also

be liable to Australian tax. However,

you will be able to claim a credit for

the Australian tax against your UK tax

liability on this income.

As you are retaining your UK tax

resident status you will not be required to

pay any Australian tax on the income you

receive from renting out your fl at in the

UK. If you are leaving the UK for more

than six months, you will be treated as a

non-resident landlord. This means that

your tenant or letting agent may be required

to deduct tax at the basic rate (currently

20 percent) from any rents paid to you. If

this is the case you may register under the

non-resident landlord scheme for approval

to receive rents with no tax deducted.

Provided your tax affairs are up to date you

should be able to get this approval.

You will have to pay UK tax on your

rental profi ts. The profi ts are calculated

by taking your rental income less

allowable expenses. Allowable expenses

include insurance, agent and management

fees, repairs (but not improvements)

and certain other expenditure incurred

wholly and exclusively in connection

with the rental. If you are letting the

property furnished, you cannot claim the

cost of providing furniture and fi ttings

but can either claim the cost of renewing

such items or a wear and tear allowance.

For a short term letting such as the one

you are undertaking, the wear and tear

allowance is likely to be the better option

– basically you can claim 10 percent of

your rental income (after council tax if

you pay this on your tenant’s behalf) as a

wear and tear allowance.

You will need to advise HMRC that you

have received rental income by the 5th

October following the end of the tax year

in which the rental income commenced.

So, for example, if you start renting the

property in August 2011, you need to

inform HMRC by 5 October 2012. They

will advise you on whether you need to

complete a self assessment tax return or if

the liability can be dealt with through the

PAYE system. If you do receive earnings in Australia

then you will need to complete a self

assessment tax return to report this income.

The deadline for reporting that you have

received foreign income is the same as

for the rental income, i.e. the 5th October

following the end of the tax year in which

the income is received.

QI’m 25 years old, a student, and I’m currently in the middle of

a medicine degree. I’m taking a year out to travel Australia and

will be working on my trip. I’m also renting out my fl at in the UK

(I don’t have a mortgage; it is paid off) while I’m out there.

What will I have to pay tax on and how to I make sure I’m paying

as little tax as possible?Chris, Newcastle


ASK THE EXPERT

A The worldwide income of a New Zealand tax resident is subject to tax. You will be liable to tax

only on your New Zealand-sourced income as long as you are non-resident of New Zealand. The overseas income of individuals who are new migrants may qualify for a four-year temporary tax exemption.

Personal income taxes rates are based on a progressive system of taxation:

Resident withholding tax is generally required to be deducted from payments of interest to New Zealand residents. If a payment of interest incurs due to exchange rate difference in the period you transferred your funds into NZ$, that payment may be taxable from the moment you become resident of NZ.

In terms of transferring your pension fund to New Zealand, the organisation of the transfer will determine the tax liability in New Zealand. In case the pension fund is transferred to a qualifi ed New Zealand superannuation fund, it qualifi es under the New Zealand benefi ts rules and it is tax free. If you transfer 25 percent of it as lump sum income, the amount of pension transferred in form of a lump sum will be taxable in New Zealand. In terms of transferring your pension fund in New Zealand, it would be recommendable to seek advice in relation to your tax liability from the UK taxation law side.

A The taxback.com TaxTracker® is a secure, personal online account which allows customers to track and monitor the step by step

progress of their tax refund. It can be used to update contact and employment details, downloads forms, receive payments, and communicate with the taxback.com team 24/7. TaxTracker® has more than 82,000 visits per month and is available in nine languages.

QI’m moving to New Zealand from the UK (I’m a British citizen)

as soon as possible (visa dependant). I’ve sold my house and have

signifi cant savings for my new life. I’m a carpenter. Single. No

children. 30 years old. I wanted to know more about my tax position,

obligations, opening a new bank account, transferring funds and pensions etc. I

also wanted to learn more about the tax situation in New Zealand (I read you pay

something like 12 percent on 40 percent of your earnings)? Nick, Norfolk

Q Hi ANZOutlook.

Love the magazine.

I’m interested

in learning more about the

taxback.com TaxTracker.

Could you tell me more?Tyler, London


Taxable income (NZ$) Income tax rates up to $14,000 12.5 percent

from $14,001 to $48,000

21 percent

from $48,001 to $70,000

33 percent

$70,001 and over

38 percent

Q What are income rates in Australia? Anon

Q What are income rates in Australia?

A The Australian tax year is from July 1st to June 30th the following year.

Australian tax refunds for temporary residents can still be claimed from as far

back as 1998 so if you’ve worked in Oz any time since 1998, and haven’t yet applied for your tax refund, you could be in for a nice surprise. If you’re planning to work in Australia, and remain there for more than a year, you can fi le your tax return once the tax year ends on June 30th.

Taxback.com customers get an average Australia tax refund of A$2500. For more information about Australian tax, visit https://lnk-2-anzoutlook.secure.taxback.com/au-tax-services.asp.

AThe standard individual tax offi ce

rates in Australia for

2010-11 are:

For more information, visit

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/

content.aspx?doc=/content/64150.

htm&mnu=43661&mfp=001/002

Q Hi ANZOutlook, I have a simple

tax question (but the

simplest are often the most

important!)… when

does the Australian tax

year start?James, Southport


Tax rates 2010-11

Taxable income Tax on this income

0 - A$6,000 Nil

A$6,001 - A$37,000 15c for each A$1 over

A$6,000

A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each

A$1 over A$37,000

A$80,001 - A$180,000

A$17,550 plus 37c for

each A$1 over A$80,000

A$180,001 and over A$54,550 plus 45c for

each A$1 over A$180,000A$180,001 and over

Q What is a Superannuation fund?

Jen, Exeter

A The Australian tax year is from July 1st to

QQ Jen, ExeterJen, ExeterJ

A Superannuation funds (which are referred to as ‘supers’ in Australia)

were introduced by the Australian Government

as a way of saving for retirement. Anyone

working in Australia who earns more than

A$450 per month will have nine percent of

their wages paid into a superannuation fund by

their employer on their behalf.Every year, temporary residents who

have worked in Australia leave behind

millions of dollars in super funds. Many

of them don’t know that they are entitled

to receive their super benefi ts once they

leave Australia. This payment is called

a departing Australia superannuation

payment (DASP) or put more simply, a

superannuation refund.Taxback.com can organise

superannuation refunds for anyone

who has left Australia permanently and

whose visa has expired. Refunds can

be claimed from as far back as 1994

and clients receive an average refund of

A$1480. For more information about

Australian Superannuation, visit http://

www.anzoutlook.lnk.taxback.com/au-tax-

refund-whm-faq.asp or email your query to

[email protected].

working down under


By Declan Clune, Registered Migration Agent with Visafi rst.com

The Western Australian Local Government is crying out for highly skilled migrants from the UK and Ireland. A

massive skills shortage threatens the start and continuation of major planned resource and infrastructural projects in Western Australia (WA). The state government is looking to Ireland and the UK to fi ll those skills shortages.

Visafi rst.com is meeting with Western Australia’s Training and Workforce Development Minister, Peter Collier, industry offi cials from the Chamber of Commerce, Industry of WA (CCI) and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) in July. The meeting will focus on assisting UK and Irish skilled migrant applicants to get both temporary and permanent positions in Western Australia.

Visafi rst will ensure that applicants meet

the visa requirements and that their skills are assessed as eligible before being put forward for positions.

The resources and mining sector tends to catch all the headlines in Australia – looking for occupations ranging from civil engineers to project managers and quantity surveyors to environmental health and safety managers. However, there is little mention in the media of the teachers, nurses, IT professionals, accountants, construction trades, mechanics, town planners and other occupations that have also experienced a massive skills shortage. The shortage is due to the ripple effect that the mining boom has created in these sectors. With so many new migrants heading directly to new mining towns as they arrive in Australia and with the rise in the number of skilled people moving northwards from Perth, skills shortages are being experienced state wide.



Many WA companies are looking to the UK and Ireland for qualifi ed workers because of the quality of education and training. While having qualifi cations are critical, all is not lost for those applicants that are skilled in their trade but yet hold no papers. As part of the visa process, we are assisting many people to obtain recognised Australian trade papers based on a detailed review of your references and by carrying out a practical assessment in your trade. We can then use these trade papers in the visa process.

The fact that UK and Irish applicants speak English fl uently and have a similar way of life to Australians is another factor that makes UK and Irish people very attractive to Australian employers. These factors help people settle in to a new life in Australia easily.

Visafi rst have noted that 70 percent of UK and Irish applicants currently applying for Australian visas are heading to Western Australia. The abundance of work in WA is the polar opposite to the 14 percent unemployment rate experienced in Ireland currently. We have Irish and UK people that are in Australia on working holiday visas contacting us looking for options on how to remain working in Australia”.

With over 150,000 places to be fi lled within the next few years, Western Australia wants you by offering you a plethora of jobs, excellent housing, healthcare and educational facilities.

To fi nd out more information about working in Western Australia and to fi nd out about your visa options, contact Declan Clune of Visafi rst.com or visit www.visafi rst.com.

ABOUT THE

authorDeclan Clune is a registered migration agent for

Visafi rst.com

Tel Ireland Free phone

+353 56 7770227 0808 2389911

E-mail Web

dclune@visafi rst.com www.visafi rst.com

Expat PROFILE


Matt’s

By Chris Farnell

With the job opportunities in Britain being what they have for the last few years,

it’s not surprising that some students, having gained their shiny new degrees and readied themselves to enter the job market, decide that they’ll have better luck on the other side of the planet. This is what Matt decided to do when he graduated with a fi lm degree in 2008.

“My mum’s a New Zealander but I had grown up in London and been out here on holiday a few times to visit family,” Matt says. “Since I was young I thought that I’d like to try living here at some point and it seemed like the perfect time as my Dad had recently retired.”

Having family already in New Zealand made the transition a lot easier than it might otherwise have been. Because Matt’s parents moved to New Zealand ahead of him, instead of arriving in a new country and having to start completely from scratch Matt was able to move into his parent’s spare room in their house in Wellington until he was able to fi nd a job. His family also made the move easier in other ways.

“Having a Kiwi parent I didn’t need to apply for a visa as I have a passport,” Matt explains. “When I arrived it was easy to transfer my British driver’s licence to a New Zealand one and apply for an IRD Number which allows you to register to work.”

Story


Dive in!Matt’s advice for anyone starting out in New Zealand is to dive in as quickly as possible.

“Say yes to everything when you arrive,” Matt says. “There’s a lot going on and getting involved is a great way to get a feel for the city. Also when you get here you’ll fi nd a friend in TradeMe.co.nz which acts as ebay, a fl at hunting site, and a job hunting site and is one of the most popular sites in the country.”

It’s worked well for Matt. Since arriving in New Zealand Matt has worked in a call centre for the ACC, a job in advertising sales for Sky TV and six weeks ago he started working for Micro Scooters doing customer service and marketing.

“It’s a small business with an offi ce in the botanical gardens so I get to take the wellington cable car to work and get a good view!” Matt boasts.

Building a new social lifeOf course, the move hasn’t been a complete cake walk. Moving to the other side of the globe means leaving behind friends and loved

Expat PROFILE


ones and having to start over again from scratch.

“The main thing I miss about living in London is of course my friends,” Matt says. “Having to set yourself up in a new city is hard when you don’t know anyone. I was lucky to meet a lot of good friends at my fi rst job ACC.”

Even with family in the country, Matt says building up a new social life was the hardest part of moving to New Zealand, but there are ways around it. “I’ve found that living in shared fl ats and getting a good social workplace are the best ways to meet people,” he says.

Indeed, shared fl ats have worked well for Matt. “I broke the golden rule of not going out with your fl atmates.” His girlfriend, Allie, is studying law at Victoria University and they’ve been going out for just over a year now.

There’s a lot going on and getting involved is a great way to get

a feel for the city


A beautiful cityHaving got to know the people in Wellington, Matt has also fallen in love with the place.

“Wellington is a beautiful city,” Matt says. “It has a lot of public events going on and Wellingtonians really get involved. This means there’s always a buzz about something around town.

“The centre is fairly small, there are lots of buses out to the suburbs and it hugs the waterfront which is always a nice place to grab lunch on a nice day,” he enthuses. “There’s also a huge number

of cafes bars and restaurants so there’s variety if you want to go out. It’s pretty easy to escape the city as well - you can be out of town to the coast in a couple of hours.”

Almost three years after he started out, Matt has settled in well to his new home. Asked what the biggest surprise about living in New Zealand is, Matt answers: “How easy it’s been and how fast it’s gone, the people are friendly and then once you arrive life just sweeps you along, two and a half years goes by quicker than you expect!”


TRAVELLER'S GUIDE

www.anzout look.com28 www.anzout look.com28

TRAVELLER'S GUIDE


Trekkingin Thailand

www.anzout look.comwww.anzout look.com AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK 29AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALANDOUTLOOK29

Trekking in Northern Thailand is gruelling but incredible. Visit hill tribe villages and an elephant

sanctuary before you head south for some beach time.

Carol Driver discovers Thailand by foot...

A long, green snake slithers through the shallow stream of water in front of my group.

“It’s harmless,” yells Damrong. We hesitate, waiting for it to pass, and

then carry on through the thick jungle – although our guide’s name doesn’t fi ll me with confi dence.

It’s 11am and 34˚C – we’ve been hiking for two hours in jungle north of Chiang Rai. Already, you could take the T-shirt off my back and wring it.

We’re climbing 2000 feet over 10km on the fi rst of a three-day trek, which, in black and white, doesn’t sound too gruelling. But add the searing temperature, humidity at 90 per cent and the fact I’m carrying a heavy backpack, and it’s a different ball game.

There are 11 others doing it with me, so there’s good camaraderie, although some have opted to pay local guides to carry their

Essential information

WHEN TO GO: When it’s mild – between Nov and Feb. June-Oct is the rainy season while it’s scorching March-May.

GETTING THERE: Eva Air, Qatar and Emirates all fl y from the UK to Bangkok.

GETTING AROUND: Carol travelled with Intrepid on

the 23-day Thailand Adventure tour.

VISAS: Granted on arrival for tourists from Australia, New Zealand or the UK.

CURRENCY: Baht. 1 GBP = 50 THB.

LANGUAGE: Thai.

GOING OUT: Local beers can cost from around 50BHT, eat wisely and a decent meal will only set you back 100 THB.

ACCOMMODATION: Included in the Intrepid trip.

GET MORE INFO: intrepidtravel.com


TRAVELLER'S GUIDE

30

TRAVELLER'S GUIDETRAVELLER'S GUIDE

bags – even the girl who’s packed enough for two weeks, including a hairdryer.

We left Bangkok a week ago, making our way to Chiang Mai via Kanchanaburi, to see the bridge over the River Kwai, and Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. It’s then an 11-hour journey on a bumpy night train, where I wake to fi nd a cockroach inches from my face.

Trekking in Chiang MaiAs a city, Chiang Mai is beautiful and the polar opposite of Bangkok – it’s calm and cool, and time seems to pass slower here. We visit a sanctuary to ride on domesticated elephants – a slightly terrifying experience as my beast wants to take the steepest routes up and down everything.

Then we start our trek, covering a total of 26km in three days, across jungle and fi elds. After spotting two more snakes, I’m thankful when we sight the Baan Huay San Lisaw village, home to the Lisu tribe and our beds for the night.

The 28,000 Lisu people are one of six tribes in Thailand. They make their homes out of bamboo and grass, and their

main source of income is through producing rice, corn, livestock and opium – but the government has restricted this.

Most of the village is basic, but the views are stunning – fl oors of dusty, red earth contrast against a bright blue sky.

There are a few 4X4s spotted outside some of the nicer huts – perhaps bought with cash made from opening the village to tourists.

That night, we’re treated to a feast fi t for kings – spicy curries, succulent chicken, slippery noodles, and sticky rice. There’s enough to feed us twice over.

We make an early start the next day – thanks to the natural alarm system of cockerels squawking at 3am.

Days two and three of the trek are easier, but we’re now walking through coffee fi elds with no shade, so the scorching sun beats down relentlessly.

Six hours, and a few sunburns, later we reach the Akha tribe village, where we’re treated to a traditional dance before, worn out, we make our way to our beds.

It’s all downhill on our fi nal day. There are cries of joy when we spot our


minibus waiting on a tiny road at the bottom of the last hill. We gratefully clamber inside, with the blast of air-con like an oxygen mask snapped over my face.

We head for the disco carriage on our 13-hour overnight train journey to Surat Thani from Bangkok. The bright lights mix well with cheesy versions of Eighties classics, as we buy beers and whisky from a man selling bottles from a bucket.

After a few hours’ dancing in the narrow space, we sleep it off before our early arrival in and drive to Khao Sok National Park, which boasts some of the best remaining rainforest in Thailand.

In search of the perfect beachA 50-minute longtail boat ride across the Chiaw Lan Lake takes us to our fl oating rafthouses. Surrounded by water and small islands, it’s an idyllic setting; the view of the mountains refl ecting on the lake is stunning. Here you can swim, kayak or explore nearby islands. But there isn’t a beach.

In search of the perfect golden sands, we then head to Krabi, for a yacht tour.

Our vessel cruises the nearby islands, such as Phi Phi and Bamboo, stopping at points in the Andaman Sea so that we can dive in and swim with the colourful fi sh.

Phi Phi is supposed to have some of the best beaches in the world, but where we moor is crowded and dirty.

Our next stop, Bamboo Island, is the perfect contrast. We fi nd a secluded spot on a pristine stretch after wading through waist-high water, lifting our bags above our heads. iPods on and books out, we soak up the rays before being kicked off a few hours later to take the yacht back to land.

I’m still in need of more than a few hours’ chill-out time, so we head for four days on the beautiful Koh Sukorn in the Andaman Sea. There are very few tourists on the remote island, which is scattered with charming fi shing villages.

We’re given a hair-raising tour of the island by motorcycle side-cage. We stop to watch the locals at work, buy snacks from a roadside shop and take photos of the stunning scenery from the viewpoint.

Back at the resort, where we’re staying in beach bungalows, it’s time to relax.

There’s a quiet stretch of beach, where you can laze in hammocks, as well as a cocktail bar nearby.

With only one computer with very slow Internet connection and no newspapers on the island, we have no choice but to switch off before making the long journey on board an overnight train back to Bangkok – and back to reality.

Our vessel cruises the nearby islands, such


ECONOMY

The Australian Economy:

By Chris Farnell

For the last four years any mention of the word

“economy” was quickly followed by a sinking feeling and the knowledge that whatever you were about

to hear would sound like a more maths-heavy version of the Book of Revelation. There’s talk of recovery, but that’s been going on almost as long as the crisis itself.

But our current round of economic woes haven’t

affected everyone equally. Under the circumstances, some are saying that Australia is actually doing pretty well. We decided to dig a little deeper and fi nd out if Australia is doing as well as it seems, and if so, why?

BOOM OR BUST?


Boom!The most recent fi nancial disaster to hit the global economy has been the debt crisis in Greece, with rioting in the streets and the rest of Europe planning a bailout to prevent the trouble spreading through the rest of the continent, and the world. The world economy is closely tied together, so fi nancial problems on one side of the planet are bound to have repercussions on the other. However, according to Dr Adrian Blundell-Wignall of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Australia actually has very little to fear from the Greek fallout.

“Australia has been lucky that we have been vertically integrated with the emerging markets. The crisis in the US and Europe will not have a big enough effect to derail the emerging market boom,” Blundell-Wignall said during a recent visit to Sydney. “I don’t think what is going on in the OECD is going to have a big enough effect on China, Brazil, India and South Africa to derail their growth. As long as growth is there in the emerging markets then what is happening in Europe won’t affect Australia.”

Blundell-Wignall says that although Australians “probably whinge and moan” about the way the country is run he believes the Reserve Bank of Australia “has really run good policy, they’ve kept rates high.”

The Reserve Bank of Australia has been keeping interest rates frozen since November to protect the Australian economy from fi nancial turmoil abroad.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard agrees, “We have those underlying strong underlying fundamentals today, because governments in the past have had the courage to step up with the big reforms that the nation needed.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the economy, the Australian job market has remained healthy even now, with the number of employed rising by 23,400 in June, with an unemployment rate of only 4.9 percent that seems to be holding steady.

The crisis in the US and Europe will not have a

big enough effect to derail the emerging market boom


ECONOMY

Or Bust?However, while Australia may seem to be safe from the adverse impact of foreign economies, there are still potential problems on the horizon that the country will have to look out for. The strong Australian dollar has started to hurt the country’s export businesses. The Australian dollar reached an equal footing with the US dollar in November, and in May it peaked at 110.11 US cents- the highest it has ever been.

As well as hurting Australia’s export businesses, it can also risk deterring newcomers to the country. Australia’s capital cities, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, are popular destinations for immigration and business trips, but according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey these cities are among the most expensive places to live in the world- due in part to the strong dollar. Two years ago Sydney was the 32nd most expensive place to live on the planet. This year it was the sixth. Sydney is closely followed by Melbourne,

which has jumped to seventh place from 38th.This is a cause for concern, because while Australia

has been mostly shielded from the disaster in Europe, its economy is not immune to outside infl uences.

Dr Adrian Blundell-Wignall, as well as voices from Australia’s Treasury, have cited China has a possible risk to Australia’s well-being. Until now China has actually been something of a booster to Australia’s economy. It buys 22.6 percent of Australian exports. As China’s economic growth reaches 10 percent, Australia and China’s terms of trade have been higher than they have for 140 years, which is partly responsible for Australia’s impressively low unemployment rates.

But this same infl ation in China and other Asian markets could have a severe impact on Australia’s trade, with many worrying that a real estate bubble is developing in China. The Treasury has been joined by the International Monetary Fund in attempting to persuade China to instigate urgent reforms to stabilise the growth of its economy. China’s economy has been growing rapidly, which could easily have negative consequences for Australia.

Overall, everyone seems to agree that things are looking good for Australia at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep an eye out for potential risks.

SHIPPING • BAGGAGE FORWARDINGOVERSEAS REMOVALS • STORAGE

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

CALL 0800 524 4813www.excess-baggage.com · [email protected]

excessbaggage_IBC_1005378.indd 1 26/10/09 11:51:37


tRAVELLER'S GUIDE

Darwin: An Evolving City


By Chris Farnell Darwin started off as a small pioneer outpost and port. Found in 1839 by the crew of the HMS

Beagle, the fl edgling settlement was named by John Clements Wickham after his ship’s one-time passenger, Charles Darwin, the man we all know as the scientist who discovered evolution and had one of the most impressive beards of the 19th century.

The name is appropriate, not because of the locals impressive facial hair (although I’m sure they could grow it if they tried) but because over the years the city as changed from a small, out of the way port town into one of Australia’s most modern and multicultural cities. Its position near the northern tip of the continent makes it a gateway to trade in Asia, making the city an essential trading hub.

Origin storySince the Beagle fi rst arrived here the city has come a long way, and while you’re here there’s worse ways to spend your time than to fi nd out a bit about this city’s rich and dramatic history. Explore the aftermath of the tragic Cycle Tracy that hit the city on the Christmas Eve of 1974. You can fi nd out about it at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. You can see fi rsthand what it did at the Chinese Temple on Litchfi eld Street that was nearly obliterated by the disaster.

While today Darwin’s position makes it a valuable gateway for trade to Asia, there was a time where its position made it a front line in the war. At the East Point Military Museum you can watch the spectacular footage from the 65 Japanese air raids that hit the city during World War II, or you can go to the Aviation


Heritage Centre and take a look at some original B52 bomber planes.

A city to exploreThere’s plenty more to see in Darwin, and so you want to take your time getting around in case you miss something. During the day this is an ideal place to explore on foot, or if that sounds like too much effort, travel on one of the city’s jump on and off tour buses. Around the edge of the city you’ll also fi nd a great cycle-path that takes you through the lush esplanade on the edge of the central business district, with a nice view of the harbour that the Beagle sailed into all those years ago.

If on your travels you feel like stopping somewhere to eat, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Round here you’ll fi nd plenty of proper, authentic local cuisine, so if you want to try crocodile, kangaroo, buffalo or mud crap, this is the place to do it. Whether you want a high end silver service restaurant, or a simple alfresco meal overlooking the harbour, Darwin will have something for you. We particularly recommend the platters of local seafood available out at Stokes Hill Wharf.

If the seafood restaurants don’t appeal, the city has plenty of tackle shops and fi shing cruises available if you want to exercise your brand of natural selection! With a healthy population of tropical fi sh, including the famous local barramundi, jewfi sh, golden snappers and threadfi n salmon, Darwin’s turquoise waters are one of the world’s better fi shing destinations.

Alternatively, strap on a scuba diving kit and swim down to the fl oor of the harbour to explore the wrecks of ships from World War II, Cyclone Tracy and confi scated Indonesian fi shing vessels.

At weekends Darwin’s smaller traders come out to play, and this is a great chance to check out the city’s many open air markets. Out at the Parap shopping village, ten minutes from the central business district, you’ll fi nd one of the favourite markets. Indeed, it’s such a favourite you may have trouble fi nding a table. Our tip, work out where you want to eat, then loiter there until a table becomes free!

tRAVELLER'S GUIDE


You can also fi nd great markets down by Nightcliff and at Mindil Beach. As well as great food, these markets are the perfect place to source locally made arts and crafts and take in some performances from the city’s host of musicians, street theatres and traditional bush poets.

Perhaps the best show this city has to offer however, is the annual beer can regatta, where the locals take to the water in homemade seafaring vessels constructed almost entirely of beer cans-

with varying degrees of success. If you want to see survival of the fi ttest in action, this is the place to do it.

Nocturnal activityWhen the original Charles Darwin came to Australia, he found there was a huge difference between the wildlife that was out during the day, and the wildlife that was active at night. In modern Darwin the situation hasn’t changed much- come out at night and you’ll discover a different place entirely.

You’ll fi nd a wealth of good pubs and clubs deserving your patronage. The best place to start off is Mitchell Street, known

as a party central to the locals. The Tap is a good place to start- a bright and inviting place with a nicely landscaped beer garden planted beneath the imposing silhouette of a melaleuca tree.

At the other end of the scale you can fi nd the Duck Nuts Bar and Grill (try and get that image out of your head!). The Duck Nuts is a massive entertainment complex with a vodka bar, restaurant, a space for live acts and a deeply disturbing name. While at times it has a great pub-like ambience, you’ll fi nd the main appeal of this place is its great range of live entertainments.

Of course, there’s more to Darwin’s night life than its pubs and clubs. Australia is full of places that are known for their spectacular sunshine, and with its tropical climate Darwin can defi nitely hold its own in that corner. However, the Top End of Australia has both a dry and wet season, and during the wet season the words “rain” and “pour” actually fall a bit short. The payoff for that heavy rainfall is that you’ll get the chance to witness some truly legendary lightning storms.

Alternatively, when the storms hit maybe you can just stay in the pub? I think that’s called adapting to your environment.

Its position near the northern tip of the continent

makes it a gateway to trade in Asia, making the city an essential

trading hub

housing focus

British interest in Antipodean property continues to soar.

By Ian Armitage


Australia tops the polls when it comes to which countries most

Britons would choose to emigrate to.Us Brits yearn warmer climes

and yearlong barbecues, as we struggle through the dark, cold days of winter.

Now more of us are no longer satisfi ed with the fantasy, and are taking steps to turn it into a permanent reality.

Buying property in Australia


What To BuyUnfortunately, foreigners can only buy

certain properties in Australia – so you are

limited in that respect.

Anyone who does not have Australian

citizenship or a permanent residency

visa is considered a foreign investor and

generally can only buy property off-plan

or vacant residential land on the condition

that construction of a residential dwelling

starts within 12 months.

The latter option is not advisable until

you have lived in Australia for a while and

have got to know the ropes. So, effectively,

if you want to buy a place in the fi rst

instance you’re looking at buying into a

new apartment development.

How to BuyHouses for sale in Australia can be sold at a list price or by auction.

Whatever the selling method, open homes are common. The sellers will arrange times with the real-estate agent – usually at weekends – when anyone who is looking for property can turn up and have a look around.

Spending a day visiting open homes is an excellent way of acquainting yourself with the property market in areas you are interested in.

Once you have found a house you wish to purchase, it’s a good idea to fi rst get a building and pest inspection report

and a valuation. Even if you feel you are knowledgeable about property in the UK, there may be fl aws in Australian homes – such as termites – that you are not familiar with.

Assuming the house valuation and inspection reports

are satisfactory, you will then want to make an offer for the house or to bid for the house in an auction.

housing focus


Mortgage DemandDemand for mortgages Down Under

has picked up of late, a tentative sign

that consumers may be starting to

loosen their purse strings in a stable

interest-rate environment.Following a surprise jump in retail

spending data, a new report shows more

than 47,300 home loans were approved

in April, a 4.8 percent increase

compared to the previous month.

The housing market has been under

a cloud since last November’s rise

in lending rates, with home building

approvals also sinking and house

prices easing.This summer’s spate of natural

disasters has also taken its toll on

consumers, with the latest national

accounts showing households continue

to prefer to save rather than spend.

Housing fi nance data from the

Australian Bureau of Statistics showed

Queensland leading the way in the

month of April, as the rebuild got

under way after the fl oods.Mortgage approvals there jumped

6.2 percent, with solid increases also

recorded in Victoria and Western

Australia, but the ACT was the

standout with an 8.8 percent increase

in the month.There were also signs that new

homebuyers were growing in

confi dence about the interest rate

outlook, shying away from the

security of fi xed-rate loans, which

accounted for just 5.6 percent of

approvals in April.This was down from 6.8 percent in

the previous March.


VisasTo be eligible for a working visa for Australia you need to be on one of the state lists of prescribed occupations, mainly skilled tradesmen, healthcare workers, engineers and IT technicians, that are in demand, with points awarded to those that are most needed.

There are also points for your youth and English language abilities.

Case StudyIn August 1998, Adrian Wallace, now 38, decided to move

Down Under. The IT professional chose Brisbane and is

now an Aussie citizen.“At the end of 2000 I sold my old house in UK, a 1.5

bedroom character cottage in Newbury, and bought a

4 bedroom house with a pool in The Gap on the leafy

hilly north western edge of Brisbane,” Adrian says. “I

Where To BuySydney is the most cosmopolitan city Down Under; Perth is a traditional Brit stronghold; Brisbane and the Gold Coast are also hugely popular. Brisbane is relatively cheap for a state capital. The average property price is AUS$430,000. The state economy, however, has weakened considerably due to the completion of a number of big non-residential and engineering projects related to the mining sector and, more recently, fl ooding.

fi rst moved here in 1998. Brisbane, it seemed to me,

was small enough that I could escape the city easy,

but big enough that I could

fi nd work. I’ve since formed

a life here.”

www.anzout look.com

The bright lights of MelbourneChris Farnell visits Victoria’s state capital

Australia's weirdest festivals10 bizarre Aussie festivals PLUSExpat storiesMigration newsExpert advice

nextissueOn sale29 August 2011

1111

44

Do you still call Australia home?Opportunities for experienced professionals include: Project and Program Managers

Change Managers

Enterprise Architects/Solution Architects

Applications Developers (.Net, Java/J2EE, Sharepoint)

Data Warehouse / Business Intelligence Consultants.

L&D Consultants (Instructional Designers, Trainers, Multimedia Developers)

OBIEE Consultants

Siebel Consultants (BA’s, Technical Consultants, PM’s, UCM, On Demand)

Junior and Senior Business Analysts and Business Process Specialists

Data Modellers and Database Developers

Data Management / Data Quality Consultants

Agile Consultants

Customer Experience BA’s

Systems Integration Specialists (TIBCO, Websphere, Calypso)

Homesick?

Missing sand between your toes?SMS Management & Technology (SMS) is Australia’s premier home-grown IT management consulting company employing over 1600 technology and business professionals across Australia, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

SMS will pay your fare home (partners and children included) to join any one of its Australian offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney if you meet our requirements.

SMS works across a wide range of industries, most notably financial services, government, telecommunications, health, defence, utilities, airlines and mining. Candidates from any of these industries are of particular interest, as are those with management and technical consulting experience.

Would you like to join us in 2011? We’ll be conducting interviews in Manchester and London over two weeks commencing 19 March.

Applications should be forwarded through the SMS website at www.smsmt.com with a detailed letter providing additional relevant information.

Applicants will be advised soon after their application has been received if an interview is to be arranged.

If you would like to meet us at the ‘Working In’ Australian Recruiting Expo in Manchester 19/20 March or London 26/27 March, contact us for a complimentary visitor’s pass.

SMS Management & Technology Head Office: Level 41, 140 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

ADELAIDE – BRISBANE – CANBERRA – MELBOURNE – SYDNEY – HONG KONG – VIETNAM www.smsmt.com

TNT_1428_edit.indd 53 7/1/11 13:10:23

ANZ Outlook / Issue 10

Documents

Transcript of ANZ Outlook / Issue 10