STAY IN JERSEY !! OR BETTER STILL MOVE TO GUERNSEY!!

If you do decide to come to Oz then avoid Sydney Brisbane and Melbourne!!

Try quieter Adelaide, Tasmania or even NZ - these would suit you well from the Channel Islds (I know them well as I lived in St Peter Port)

A move from the Channel Isds to Australia you probably wont know what has hit you! The difference is massive - Australia has no history and culture compared to the best part of the British Isle (Channel Islds)

Think carefullly but the best of luck anyway! I would move back to the CI tomorrow!

Australia is ageing, and the birth rates are falling steadily. The tax burden is increasing but the taxpaying population is reducing. Australia does need to massively step up immigration in order to increase the tax paying population, and hence maintain the country. The strict entry requirements seek out the optimum tax-generating migrants - such as age limits (i.e. longevity in the workforce), and medical checks (reduced burden on the already over-stretched health service). Incentives such as the baby bonus are an attempt to increase the birth rate and pacify the campaigners for maternity pay (which would otherwise further inflate the cost of social welfare). Changes to immigration laws come into effect tomorrow, making it easier for some foreign workers to get a foot in Australia, (and increasing tax revenues, I suspect - e.g. the ability to apply for a second WHV under certain circumstances).

Like all 'western' nations Australia has a lower birth rate than death rate and therefore is "depopulating", but what I meant by that post was that if all of Australia experienced your experiences they would, most likely, just pack up and head "home" leaving Australia unpopulated apart from the aborigines. The fact that they dont tells me your experiences (whilst valid to you) are unusual to most Australians.

Don't be silly OP was looking for helpful sensible comments.

Thank you, we are heading towards Newcastle (where we have lots of family to meet), so just wanted to clarify, as have 13 and 18 year old. With them mostly in mind wish to be within striking distance of city for college and social life for the older one until he saves enough to take off on his own, and obviously younger one will be growing up all to soon. hope your idea to sell the farm and move to somewhere you will be happier goes smoothly. Good luck.

to the original poster having been bitten by the bug and like you read every opinion I could find, now feel that I could not live with the thought that I did not give it a go, but I am looking at it that it is only a move if it is bad we will move again (just like a bad RAF posting, have been there), but all 4 of us have agreed that whatever might happen we will see out the two years and get our citizenship then the boys will always have a choice, and that is what I want to give them the opportunities and the choice to live their lives, and this feels the right thing to do. A favourite saying of my is 'that you can only make the best decision at that particular time' later it might not fit, then you make another decision and change it.

good luck in your choice, and hope that you will be happy which ever country you choose

Nicky

is depopulation is not specific to Australia. All western nations are going through this because young professional couples can't bo arsed to have children because it might put a dent in their six annual holidays. As is the same for all acts of self-indulgence, there is always payback. This time, the payback comes in the form of increasing taxes and immigration topay for the ageing population and social infrastructure.

Having said that, when the west starts to creak and split and crack where do you want to be? In an overpopulated damp island in northern Europe? In an overpopulated crime-ridden North America?

Or sitting on your property down under watching the crows in the gum trees?

Do you know what circumstances? Or where I can find out?

It was in the paper over the weekend. Can't find the article online but all changes are detailed on govt website:
http://www.immi.gov.au/legislation/a...01112005_8.htm

But surely you knew sooner than now that Australia's modern day history only goes back 200 years or so? What did you expect? Castles and medieval festivals?

There is plenty of culture in Melbourne. Perhaps you haven't looked closely enough. Melbourne has more 'culture' (galleries, museums, festivals, arts, music, theatre, ) than many UK towns and cities, IMO.

Thanks JS, checked it out, still no use to us though, so I guess we are back on the waiting game