LAFHA under threat
Dec 2nd 2011, 4:06 am
#106
Proudly Deplorable
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Dec 2nd 2011, 5:45 am
#107
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Not Brisbane
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Re: LAFHA under threat
Some good info in the attachment
Dec 4th 2011, 8:19 am
#108
Social Grenade Thrower
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: South Coast, NSW
Posts: 3,625
Dec 5th 2011, 1:54 am
#109
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Was Huddersfield, now Rouse Hill, Sydney.
Posts: 38
Re: LAFHA under threat
This is how I see it too
Also means about a 20% reduction in take home for me too.
And I could accept that if I was entitled to the same schooling, medical care and access to certain healthcare plans and the like that the same tax dollars pay for with PR and actual australians. But, we on 457's are an easy target as we don't have a political voice to complain with.
Vote with our feet?
Not likely. Came here for the perceived opportunities and way of life for the family. Some will leave due to it, sure, but what is the purpose of the 457? To fill roles that cannot be filled locally. So what does that achieve?
There will probably be a rash of PR applications go in from those being stiffed. I'll be one of them.
Some more thought and clarification required soonest me thinks.
Dec 5th 2011, 2:14 am
#110
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,230
Re: LAFHA under threat
This is how I see it too
Also means about a 20% reduction in take home for me too.
And I could accept that if I was entitled to the same schooling, medical care and access to certain healthcare plans and the like that the same tax dollars pay for with PR and actual australians. But, we on 457's are an easy target as we don't have a political voice to complain with.
Vote with our feet?
Not likely. Came here for the perceived opportunities and way of life for the family. Some will leave due to it, sure, but what is the purpose of the 457? To fill roles that cannot be filled locally. So what does that achieve?
There will probably be a rash of PR applications go in from those being stiffed. I'll be one of them.
Some more thought and clarification required soonest me thinks.
Also means about a 20% reduction in take home for me too.
And I could accept that if I was entitled to the same schooling, medical care and access to certain healthcare plans and the like that the same tax dollars pay for with PR and actual australians. But, we on 457's are an easy target as we don't have a political voice to complain with.
Vote with our feet?
Not likely. Came here for the perceived opportunities and way of life for the family. Some will leave due to it, sure, but what is the purpose of the 457? To fill roles that cannot be filled locally. So what does that achieve?
There will probably be a rash of PR applications go in from those being stiffed. I'll be one of them.
Some more thought and clarification required soonest me thinks.
If people are planning on staying here and just using the LAHFA for a bit of extra cash then I'm not entirely sure that's right. Surely thats not what its intended for.
Dec 5th 2011, 2:24 am
#111
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: LAFHA under threat
It's funny how tax and at the end of the day, MONEY, is such a selfish thing.
Dec 5th 2011, 2:40 am
#112
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Was Huddersfield, now Rouse Hill, Sydney.
Posts: 38
Re: LAFHA under threat
Found out about LAFHA after the fact, but as I think I clearly put across, it compensates for the things my visa does not entitle me to, that I have to pay extra for.
Take LAFHA by all means, but give me the same rights as everyone else, indeed as it appears the British government affords Australian citizens.
I'm here to live, not make a fast buck.
Separate topic probably, but if skills like mine are in demand, and cannot be filled locally, hence the 457 visa, why am I not on the skills shortage list, and therefore able to apply for residency straight away?
Dec 5th 2011, 2:50 am
#113
Social Grenade Thrower
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: South Coast, NSW
Posts: 3,625
Re: LAFHA under threat
If you are an Oz living in the UK on a temp Visa, you get free schooling, free healthcare and you get the UK version of LAFHA. The same is not working the other way round and yet Australia has signed up to reciprocal benefits....but is clearly not implementing them. As others have said, if I was entitled to the same as PR and citizens then the loss of LAFHA could be stomached...I'm not and so pretty pissed off at the Oz government.
Dec 5th 2011, 2:53 am
#114
Social Grenade Thrower
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: South Coast, NSW
Posts: 3,625
Re: LAFHA under threat
If and when I go PR I will be losing a lot of money so I would have to plan for that and make major budget adjustments...because I still have my home in UK. If anyone even thinks of saying, :Well, just sell it then..." I will lose it. Its not your money people so just imagine for one moment it is and then try and imagine the financial changes which initially certainly are quite drastic.
Dec 5th 2011, 2:56 am
#115
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,230
Re: LAFHA under threat
No, actually. Not eligible for PR until I've been here for 2 yrs, and only then if my co. will sponsor me for it I believe.
Found out about LAFHA after the fact, but as I think I clearly put across, it compensates for the things my visa does not entitle me to, that I have to pay extra for.
Take LAFHA by all means, but give me the same rights as everyone else, indeed as it appears the British government affords Australian citizens.
I'm here to live, not make a fast buck.
Separate topic probably, but if skills like mine are in demand, and cannot be filled locally, hence the 457 visa, why am I not on the skills shortage list, and therefore able to apply for residency straight away?
Found out about LAFHA after the fact, but as I think I clearly put across, it compensates for the things my visa does not entitle me to, that I have to pay extra for.
Take LAFHA by all means, but give me the same rights as everyone else, indeed as it appears the British government affords Australian citizens.
I'm here to live, not make a fast buck.
Separate topic probably, but if skills like mine are in demand, and cannot be filled locally, hence the 457 visa, why am I not on the skills shortage list, and therefore able to apply for residency straight away?
Dec 5th 2011, 3:09 am
#116
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,230
Re: LAFHA under threat
Its not EXTRA cash....its offsetting the lack of benefits and your own financial responsibilities back in your parent country.
If and when I go PR I will be losing a lot of money so I would have to plan for that and make major budget adjustments...because I still have my home in UK. If anyone even thinks of saying, :Well, just sell it then..." I will lose it. Its not your money people so just imagine for one moment it is and then try and imagine the financial changes which initially certainly are quite drastic.
If and when I go PR I will be losing a lot of money so I would have to plan for that and make major budget adjustments...because I still have my home in UK. If anyone even thinks of saying, :Well, just sell it then..." I will lose it. Its not your money people so just imagine for one moment it is and then try and imagine the financial changes which initially certainly are quite drastic.
I get that you planned your time here as financially viabale based on getting the LAFHA and so to have it taken away next year is like having the rug pulled out from under your feet. That doesn't seem right at all so you are clearly angry.
If you get PR then that should enable you to get the schooling, benefits, etc. Basically a lot of what the LAHFA is intended to compensate. If your financial commitments back home means its still not feasible then I guess you have to make the choice about whether to give something up back there, or give something up here - which is shitty.
Dec 5th 2011, 3:12 am
#117
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: LAFHA under threat
Though I will agree it's grossly unfair that temp visa workers cannot participate in these things, without cost, like a permanent taxpayer, the system of LAHFA needs to be work as it's intended and therefore LAHFA plus the rights of temp workers needs a change.
Dec 5th 2011, 3:38 am
#118
Frequent Flyer Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,994
Re: LAFHA under threat
Schooling shouldn't really come into the equation either. That is state based policy (NSW & ACT only as far as I know)...versus LAFHA which is federal. 457 visa holders in WA, Qld, Vic, Tas, NT and SA aren't paying for schooling.
I think the purpose of LAFHA has got lost somewhere along the way. The treasurer is now moving the goalposts back to what I assume was the original intention for LAFHA. It's unfortunate that an industry seems to have sprung up around advising on LAFHA and it has become such a feature of people's remuneration and contracts that they are somewhat dependant on it. The goalposts were always liable to being moved.
I think the purpose of LAFHA has got lost somewhere along the way. The treasurer is now moving the goalposts back to what I assume was the original intention for LAFHA. It's unfortunate that an industry seems to have sprung up around advising on LAFHA and it has become such a feature of people's remuneration and contracts that they are somewhat dependant on it. The goalposts were always liable to being moved.
Last edited by bcworld; Dec 5th 2011 at 3:44 am.
Dec 5th 2011, 3:39 am
#119
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 13,098
Re: LAFHA under threat
This is how I see it too
Also means about a 20% reduction in take home for me too.
And I could accept that if I was entitled to the same schooling, medical care and access to certain healthcare plans and the like that the same tax dollars pay for with PR and actual australians. But, we on 457's are an easy target as we don't have a political voice to complain with.
Vote with our feet?
Not likely. Came here for the perceived opportunities and way of life for the family. Some will leave due to it, sure, but what is the purpose of the 457? To fill roles that cannot be filled locally. So what does that achieve?
There will probably be a rash of PR applications go in from those being stiffed. I'll be one of them.
Some more thought and clarification required soonest me thinks.
Also means about a 20% reduction in take home for me too.
And I could accept that if I was entitled to the same schooling, medical care and access to certain healthcare plans and the like that the same tax dollars pay for with PR and actual australians. But, we on 457's are an easy target as we don't have a political voice to complain with.
Vote with our feet?
Not likely. Came here for the perceived opportunities and way of life for the family. Some will leave due to it, sure, but what is the purpose of the 457? To fill roles that cannot be filled locally. So what does that achieve?
There will probably be a rash of PR applications go in from those being stiffed. I'll be one of them.
Some more thought and clarification required soonest me thinks.
Just my opinion of course.
Dec 5th 2011, 5:41 am
#120
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Not Brisbane
Posts: 1,210
Re: LAFHA under threat
So your commitment to Australia is zero then. We came on a 457 because it was the only way to get here. As soon as we were eligible for PR we applied, same again for citizenship. I am sorry that you feel hard done to, you knew all of this before you took the job so I have absolutely no sympathy for people in your situation. LAFHA should not be given to people from overseas IMO, just PR or citizens who have to go away to work and are financially inconvenienced through no fault of their own (i.e. work transfer).
Just my opinion of course.
Just my opinion of course.
