Wendy

I couldn't have afforded a detached house, with a swimming pool on a 1000 m2 block in the UK, in a comparable 'estate'

Weebie

Migrating to Aus in the past 2 years is much different than migrating 5-10 years ago.

Wendy

If I sold up and went back now (*shudder*) I still couldn't afford one. Even with the brilliant exchange rate.

Not that I'd want to. I'd rather live in a tent here than in a mansion back there!

ABCDiamond

Now we need the definition of a slum...

A slum area in Australia according to you ? All between $350k and $400k, with 4 bedrooms, and within 1 hour of Sydney CBD by train.

Vash the Stampede

Nobody's disputing that.

neil248

But not as dreary as some semi back in the UK

Grayling

That depends on where it is....in either country

neil248

A 3bed detached on 600sq m is probably the better bet using little a bit of due diligence to whats around you of course

lived in a 70's semi in a "good" area and still think dreary and not good for my daughter compared to here.

ozzieeagle

Here is exactly why the UK is a no no for the average everyday worker. Not people with skills but those lower down the scale. Plus why those same workers have such comparatively higher wages and far better conditions in Aus.... at least 19 bucks adult wage (11 quid) an hour in a shop for example.

Plus it's why the Liberals and their Workchoices legislation failed at the last general election.

Better of in the UK..... I should Coco..... Check out article 4

UK - In severe breach of worker and trade union rights
‏26million of us denied our basic rights.....shocking

The European Committee of Social Rights has examined the application of the European Social Charter by the United Kingdom. Its report was published on 17 December 2010 and found severe breaches of trade union and workers' rights:. http://tinyurl.com/2b8yq3k

Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights

Article 6 - Right to bargain collectively/Paragraph 2 - Negotiation procedures
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 62 of the Charter on the grounds that:

- workers do not have the right to bring legal proceedings against employers who made offers to co-workers in order to induce them to surrender their union rights

- and, in such cases, trade unions too cannot claim a violation of the right to collective bargaining.

Article 6 - Right to bargain collectively/ Paragraph 4 - Collective action
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 6§4 of the Charter on the following grounds:

- the scope for workers to defend their interests through lawful collective action is excessively circumscribed;

- the requirement to give notice to an employer of a ballot on industrial action, in addition to the strike notice that must be issued before taking action, is excessive;

- the protection of workers against dismissal when taking industrial action is insufficient.

Article 2 - Right to just conditions of work/ Paragraph 2 - Public holidays with pay
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in United Kingdom is not in conformity with
Article 2§2 of the Charter on the ground that it has not been established that the right to public holidays with pay is guaranteed.

Article 2 - Right to just conditions of work/Paragraph 3 - Annual holiday with pay
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in United Kingdom is not in conformity with
Article 2§3 of the Charter on the ground that workers who fall ill or are injured during their holiday are not entitled to take the days lost at another time.

Article 2 - Right to just conditions of work/Paragraph 4 - Reduced working hours or additional holidays in dangerous or unhealthy occupations
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity
with Article 2§4 of the Charter on the ground that it has not been established that measures reducing exposure to risks are provided.

Article 2 - Right to just conditions of work/Paragraph 5 - Weekly rest period
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 2§5 of the Charter on the grounds that there are inadequate safeguards to prevent that workers may work for more than twelve consecutive days without a rest period.

Article 4 - Right to a fair remuneration/Paragraph 1 - Decent remuneration
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 4§1 of the Charter on the ground that the minimum wage is manifestly unfair.

Article 4 - Right to a fair remuneration/Paragraph 2 - Increased remuneration for overtime work
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 4§2 of the Charter on the grounds that workers do not have adequate legal guarantees ensuring them increased remuneration for overtime.

Article 4 - Right to a fair remuneration/Paragraph 4 - Reasonable notice of termination of employment
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 4§4 of the Charter on the ground that notice periods for employees with less than three years' service are too short.

Article 5 - Right to organise / Not in conformity
Conclusion: The Committee concludes that the situation in the United Kingdom is not in conformity with Article 5 of the Charter on the ground that Section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which makes unlawful for a trade union to indemnify an individual union member for a penalty imposed for an offence or contempt of court, and Section 65 of this Act, which severely restricts the grounds on which a trade union may lawfully discipline members, represent unjustified incursions into the autonomy of trade unions.

DeadVim

Another Slum, our slum, in fact ... It's not a McMansion and it's not within an hour of the CBD but it is also is not within bothering distance of anyone else

mpgrewal

With Australia being the world's costliest mainland (with only islands like Hawaii, Mauritius, etc costlier than AU), life of a newly-in migrant is a struggle. Thats why you find such migrants do multiple shift jobs for petty hourly rates, to make both ends meet.

Those who enjoy australia are riches, established property investors and locals. For those coming from outside, its not easy and everyday is a struggle

Weebie

This. Any young migrants without kids are in no position to comment until they're in that position and realise that they can no longer afford to spend 300 a week on a room in Bondi lol!

DeadVim

No, we are by no means rich (and a one income family at the moment) but we do not have high material needs either.

It's all about expectations on life, if you want all the trinkets, holidays and bells and whistles then you gotta pay for it.

moneypenny20

What complete nonsense. Seriously, I can't be bothered to go into details but that statement is so wrong on many levels.

Wendy

I've been called a lot of things. Can't say rich is one of them