Originally Posted by Beoz

I think you are over dramatising the removal of LAHFA and the effect it will have on Australia. It will go unnoticed. I'd be very surprised if an equivelent scheme existed for you in Indonesia

Originally Posted by cubeonly

I guess it's no different, and reinforces my view of Australia - I think the place sucks (because of its nanny government regime). Normal folk and the place itself are great though.

Originally Posted by Beoz

So the place is great and sucks in the same paragraph. You've really gone beyond seeing all rational now haven't you?

Originally Posted by cubeonly

The government/nanny state regime sucks. The place itself and the people I've met are great.

Originally Posted by elice_in_oz

And again, a few years ago the new Labor government changed the means-tested thresholds for many benefits when announcing their first budget in May, most changes effective from 1st July that same year. It only gave people a few weeks notice that they were losing benefits they'd been getting for years. How is that different? Isn't it the nature of politics?

Originally Posted by Tramps_mate

Your on $400,000 dollars and moaning over the loss of 12k pounds?

Originally Posted by paddyo

the federal and state governments here are a complete joke. Its like reading about your local village council!!!

Originally Posted by elice_in_oz

You're preaching to the converted here Paddy!

Originally Posted by Tramps_mate

Your on $400,000 dollars and moaning over the loss of 12k pounds?

Originally Posted by elice_in_oz

Yes, that would only be fair as they pay taxes the same as everybody else. Bear in mind that a lot of those benefits are means-tested or only apply to 2-working parents family. If this was implemented though, same as PRs and citizens, temporary residents would not get the chilcare rebate for example if one parent was a stay-at-home parent.

Citizens and PRs don't all get handouts and some temporary residents on here seem to think that we all live on the plentiful benefits. Not so. Before I went back to work, we got no childcare relief, whether we were on a 457 or a PR visa.

Having been on both side of the fence, I do think that temporary residents should be entitled to some benefits since they pay their taxes. But I also believe the LAFHA was abused by too many to not be tightened and I am glad to see it go. Shame the government is not making a gesture towards those with families by giving them some benefits though.

I agree with those that say that the changes are too drastic too quickly but maybe people should have heeded the November warning rather than think it would never happen.

Originally Posted by ginstwin

My sons lease was renewed in late september . So he will be massively underwater for 3 months.

If a years notice was given thats fair enough but it really wasn't.

Originally Posted by rld1177

I've been here a couple months and it doesn't seem much worse vs the UK. The only difference I notice is strange incentives (as an American anyway) giving handouts for example to family with both parents working to help with childcare, but not helping a single income family at all that elects to not have the latest TV or bigger home and wants a parent at home instead. Beyond that and the typical handouts to the middle class to buy votes I don't see a big difference - same stuff in the UK with Labour moaning about wanting to print more money instead of paying the bills. What is the big difference you see?

Originally Posted by paddyo

Doesn't make it right though does it?

Look, aside from my p!ssed-off ness (not a word but not sure how else to put it!!) with LAFHA, I would say to anybody thinking of coming to Australia to beware not just the governments swings to and fro with policy's, taxes and infrastructure, but the sheer apathy of Australian voters to actually do anything about it. I understand why, most people think 'stuff it, I'm ok and I'll just pop off down to the beach later or at the weekend'.
This is not my observation by the way, its a general consensus of my Australian colleagues and I agree with them.
I do like being here, my family likes being here and I will try my best to stay, but the federal and state governments here are a complete joke. Its like reading about your local village council!!!

Originally Posted by paddyo

Its not the money he was complaining about, it was the principle of the loss notice and how it affects others. He quite clearly stated that as a single person he has easy choices to make to change, he also said that he empathises with those who have families who may not have easy choices to make.