I agree. Having children, for many well off westerners, is a choice in the main. The child benefit should be at least be fully means tested. It sort of irks me that people migrate, claim it, whilst at the same time trying to decide on which new car to buy or which affluent suburb offers the best school.

Thanks

He's after something in IT

All I can do is point you to Domain.com.au (choose North suburbs) which is website for rentals and properties for sale. Footscray is close to the city so its a bit expensive in some areas but I've just had a look and there are some 3 bed houses for $350-$380.

You have a VERY good point there.

Which private school do we pick, and how much Benefit will the taxpayer contribute to our childs chosen private school costs ?

In theory, if you can afford private schools, you don't NEED the child benefit.

Family benefits ARE means tested, both parts A and B. Only thing that is not means tested is the chidcare rebate (not the benefit). My OH earns a very good salary which means we're only eligible for Family Benefit part B (well, have to wait until we do our tax returns, we might be just over the limit). That's about $3,500 for the whole year for 2 children under 5. Not complaining, just pointing out that not everyone gets the benefits.

Of course, when I go back to work, that will pretty much disappear as our combined income will probably be over the threshold (I won't earn much, just enough to tip the scales...). We have a 10 year-old car and have not moved to an affluent suburb because of a shool. Couldn't afford it. We've been here 7 years, have been paying our taxes here for 7 years and because we were temporary residents until last year, we have never got the baby bonus or any of the other handouts from the government (except for FHBG). And we didn't even claim the LAFHA. So not everybody lives off other people's taxes... And I have not gone back to work earlier as we would have been worse off because of the cost of childcare (even with the rebate). Couldn't justify going to work just to pay for childcare...
I completely agree with you there. If you have enough money to send your kids to private school (heavily subsidised by our taxes too btw), you shouldn't get anything.

The subsidy to private schools is another topic, but in brief, children in State schools are subsidised by almost twice as much as Private school school students are.
The average state school child costs the taxpayer about $11,000 pa but the private school ones only cost about $6,700 pa. source

A family does not have to earn that much to get no FTB. Given that immigrants generally work hard in their new country I would imagine that most get very little off the Government. We had to give most of ours back so would not even bother getting involved with Centrelink unless we were desperate.

You will also very quickly look at private schooling especially if you live in Queensland.

I do remember though that one of the reps who visits us has four Children and that is the magic number where it is debatable whether it is worth working or not if there is only one bread winner in the family as the benefits become very generous. In his case working was slightly more attractive than staying at home.

Define "much"..

2009-10
FTB Part A
Actual annual family income limit at which Family Tax Benefit stops, with 1 child under 17: $101,045

FTB Part B is limited to families (single parent or couple) where the primary earner has an adjusted taxable income of $150,000 per year or less.

$150,000 per year or less
If I am not mistaken average australian family income is 67k, So it seem most Australian must be claiming FTB B. correct me if I am wrong

Only if they have children with one partner not working or only working a little.

But Yes, a lot do get it.