Federal budget seem as expectantly unfavourable to many Australian this year. I think, it is a bit too late to post this article as the budget already over and discussed for some months ago.
I guess, for those who intend to migrate or considering retire in Australia. There are few factors below can take into consideration before you make any decision.
1. Retirement age: Increasing the qualifying age for pension to 67 in 2023 (at current pension age is 65 for male and 63 for female). The new changes will affect for those who is currently below 51. However, pension rate was revised as the maximum assistance for single pensioners will increase from around $304.19 per week to $336.68 per week and for pensioner couples from around $497.36 per week to $507.50 per week.
2. Testing private health insurance rebate: Private health insurance rebate available (for single income more than 75k/yr and double income 150k/yr) will be cut and means tested. Medicare surcharge will rise to 1.5% for high income earner for those who do not have private health insurance.
3. Family: From 2011, parents will have access paid leave up to 18 weeks at minimum wages or around $504/week. In option for the plan, mum or dad forfeit right to receive baby bonus or certain family tax benefit.
4. First home buyer boast will be extended until 31 Dec09. From then, it will be halved to $10,500 for existing homes, and $14,000 to new homes.
5. There $8.453bn was allocated for nation infrastructure building on road, rail and port. It also mean that more professionals on civil industry will be needed to run on various national project in decade ahead.
Detail from TheAustralian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/specials/0,,5017014,00.html
Monday, June 29, 2009
Australia falling from rich list
AUSTRALIA has fallen out of the top 10 list of countries with the greatest number of millionaires, a report has found.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25688196-5017996,00.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25688196-5017996,00.html
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Skill migrant outcome top 10 occupation 07/08
This is another interesting findings from migration statistic of top 10 skill migrant occupation in year 07/08.
1. Accountant (9107)
2. Computing professional (4198)
3. Cooks (3485)
4. Registered nurses (2379)
5. General managers (1315)
6. Hairdresser (1082)
7. Marketing specialist (990)
8. Mechanical engineers(1007)
9. Business professional (953)
10. Civil engineers (921)
The statistic above is based on immigration trend before global financial crisis hit Australia. However, it will still serve as basis guideline on which profession has higher chances of getting skill stream visa.
Number of cooks obtaining visa increased from 2012 in 06/07 to 3485 in 07/08. This was due to factor of many overseas student of getting their permanent visa by studying in Australia (as mention in my previous posting). In early April, cook profession was taken out from critical skill list to ensure the locals job opportunity would not be affected by influx of migrant.
Although accountant profession rank highest in skill stream granted visa, recent news revealed that very few have been able to secure work as accountant. Early of this year, HES's data shown that low level of English competency among former overseas students who have secured skilled migrant visas as Australian-trained accountants are causing many concerns from employers during the hiring process.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24946893-12332,00.html
The new financial year for 09/10 is just around the corner. Migration report for 08/09 will be published soon. We will look forward to further dive in skill migrant ranking after being affected by gloom economy outlook in Australia.
1. Accountant (9107)
2. Computing professional (4198)
3. Cooks (3485)
4. Registered nurses (2379)
5. General managers (1315)
6. Hairdresser (1082)
7. Marketing specialist (990)
8. Mechanical engineers(1007)
9. Business professional (953)
10. Civil engineers (921)
The statistic above is based on immigration trend before global financial crisis hit Australia. However, it will still serve as basis guideline on which profession has higher chances of getting skill stream visa.
Number of cooks obtaining visa increased from 2012 in 06/07 to 3485 in 07/08. This was due to factor of many overseas student of getting their permanent visa by studying in Australia (as mention in my previous posting). In early April, cook profession was taken out from critical skill list to ensure the locals job opportunity would not be affected by influx of migrant.
Although accountant profession rank highest in skill stream granted visa, recent news revealed that very few have been able to secure work as accountant. Early of this year, HES's data shown that low level of English competency among former overseas students who have secured skilled migrant visas as Australian-trained accountants are causing many concerns from employers during the hiring process.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24946893-12332,00.html
The new financial year for 09/10 is just around the corner. Migration report for 08/09 will be published soon. We will look forward to further dive in skill migrant ranking after being affected by gloom economy outlook in Australia.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Apa khabar? - going downunder
In 2007/08, total numbers of migrant granted visa in Australia soar to 158,630. Thanks to economic boom especially in the mining industry, the number was the highest compared with previous year. The skill stream take up the majority number which is a total of 108,540.
In view of the numbers of migrant, Malaysian migrant rank among 7th of top 10 country of migrant which contributed 4,842. It is such a surprise that Malaysia can reach this ranking although it is just a small and less populated country compared to UK, India and China which are top 3 ranking. It may be possibly due to the lay back nature, lifestyle and the society freedom in Australia which attract many Malaysians to call this land their second home.
The statistic data of immigration in 2007/08 is just a tip of ice-berg of the entire Malaysian immigrating trend. The massive growth of Malaysian immigrating to Australia especially among Chinese ethnic continue all the way since 1973 when the Immigration Restriction Act had officially ended.
(refer to History of immigration from Malaysia)
Due the current effect of globalisation and political instability, Malaysian immigrating trend to Australia is expected to increase further.
Malaysia Boleh!!!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The era of unrestrained permanent residency for overseas students may be over
This is quite interesting news about getting permanent residency through education in Australia.
Other than off shore skill migration, family migration or business skill migration, education in Australia seem another popular way to secure the permanent residency status in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25646327-12332,00.html
Other than off shore skill migration, family migration or business skill migration, education in Australia seem another popular way to secure the permanent residency status in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25646327-12332,00.html
Convert to Victorian driving licence
Convert driving licence to Victorian licence depends on two condition.
1. Temporary visa holder
If you are temporary visa holder, you can drive on your overseas licence (provided it is current and valid) for an indefinite period provided your overseas licence is in English. For non-English licence like Malaysian licence, it is better to translate it and get a Commission of Oath to acknowledge the translation copy.
2. Permanent visa holder
For permanent visa holder, you can only use the foreign licence for 3 months from the date you first entered Australia or from the time the permanent visa was issued to you (whichever is the later).
For Malaysia driving licence holders, unfortunately it is not under the list of exemptions from licence tests countries. Probably you would have to refer to this link to understand the list of test that you would need to go through and the fees that you would need to pay.
1. List of driving test
2. Fees of driving test and licence
For those who is Singapore PR, something interesting to get yourself save some amount of money from paying driving test fees through this conversion. Singapore licence holder is under the list of countries that exempted from taking the licence test. The conversion fees is free of charge. However, you would need to pay for new issued driver licence fees. (refer to licence fees link).
1. Temporary visa holder
If you are temporary visa holder, you can drive on your overseas licence (provided it is current and valid) for an indefinite period provided your overseas licence is in English. For non-English licence like Malaysian licence, it is better to translate it and get a Commission of Oath to acknowledge the translation copy.
2. Permanent visa holder
For permanent visa holder, you can only use the foreign licence for 3 months from the date you first entered Australia or from the time the permanent visa was issued to you (whichever is the later).
For Malaysia driving licence holders, unfortunately it is not under the list of exemptions from licence tests countries. Probably you would have to refer to this link to understand the list of test that you would need to go through and the fees that you would need to pay.
1. List of driving test
2. Fees of driving test and licence
For those who is Singapore PR, something interesting to get yourself save some amount of money from paying driving test fees through this conversion. Singapore licence holder is under the list of countries that exempted from taking the licence test. The conversion fees is free of charge. However, you would need to pay for new issued driver licence fees. (refer to licence fees link).
If you are Malaysian who is also Singapore PR, do try to convert your driving licence to Singapore licence. Then, convert the Singapore licence to Victorian licence so that can help you to save some substantial amount of money.
Things to do first
1. Apply for tax file number (TFN)
It is important to register TFN when you first set you foot in Australia. Indeed, you can register TFN when you do the first landing for permanent visa holder.
With TFN, you are exempted for being charged 10% tax for the interest that you earn from bank investment account. In fact, this can help you to save substantial if the amount of saving in bank is large.
2. Register with medicare
If you are permanent resident visa holder, you will be entitle for medicare benefit immediately. With medicare, it also mean that you will be taxed 1.5% from you total income.
3. Open a bank account
Actually, if I am not mistaken, any foreigner can open an bank account in Australia. Compare the bank interest between Malaysia and Aus, Aus local bank give a substantial interest rate as high as 5%. If you are keen in investing AUD and earn some interest at the same time, open a bank account in Aus local bank is the best option while you are traveling to Aus. It also mean that you can start investing your money away before you settle into Aus.
However, as non-resident, you will be taxed 10% of every interest that you earn as well. Managing the acc out of Aus is also pretty challenging but the bank services are quite good. You can even communicate with bank customer service with email, view the statement and do transaction online.
4. Register with Centerlink
This will only applicable for permanent visa holder. However, some of the benefit provided by centerlink will have 2 years waiting period for permanent visa holder as well.
5. Register for English class
Communicating in English is very important and the key to understand some of local Australian English words.
6. Enroll children for school
It would be applicable to those who has family with kids.
7. Apply for driver's licence
This section is pretty tricky and interesting to find out procedure. I will explain more in getting Victorian licence section.
It is important to register TFN when you first set you foot in Australia. Indeed, you can register TFN when you do the first landing for permanent visa holder.
With TFN, you are exempted for being charged 10% tax for the interest that you earn from bank investment account. In fact, this can help you to save substantial if the amount of saving in bank is large.
2. Register with medicare
If you are permanent resident visa holder, you will be entitle for medicare benefit immediately. With medicare, it also mean that you will be taxed 1.5% from you total income.
3. Open a bank account
Actually, if I am not mistaken, any foreigner can open an bank account in Australia. Compare the bank interest between Malaysia and Aus, Aus local bank give a substantial interest rate as high as 5%. If you are keen in investing AUD and earn some interest at the same time, open a bank account in Aus local bank is the best option while you are traveling to Aus. It also mean that you can start investing your money away before you settle into Aus.
However, as non-resident, you will be taxed 10% of every interest that you earn as well. Managing the acc out of Aus is also pretty challenging but the bank services are quite good. You can even communicate with bank customer service with email, view the statement and do transaction online.
4. Register with Centerlink
This will only applicable for permanent visa holder. However, some of the benefit provided by centerlink will have 2 years waiting period for permanent visa holder as well.
5. Register for English class
Communicating in English is very important and the key to understand some of local Australian English words.
6. Enroll children for school
It would be applicable to those who has family with kids.
7. Apply for driver's licence
This section is pretty tricky and interesting to find out procedure. I will explain more in getting Victorian licence section.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Train line map in Melbourne
Getting a new start in Melbourne will need to understand the train line in both Metropolitant and Victoria state. It seem that Melbourne train system is as complicated as London Tube :)
Picture taken from http://www.railpage.org.au
Picture taken from http://www.railpage.org.au
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