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Quake-stricken city still a gateway to NZ’s South Island
g n i t hun House
land’s New Zea A guide tosing market hou
NZ Jobs
200,000 new jobs by 2015 Migration news, Ask the Expert, Perth, What’s on…
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EDITORIAL Editor: Ian Armitage Writers: Colin Chinery Chris Farnell Jane Bordenave
Christchurch
BUSINESS General Manager: Andy Ellis Research Manager: Andy Williams Researchers: Nicholas Davies Elle Watson Dave Hodgson Chris Bolderstone Sales Executive: Rahim Ali Sales Administrator: Abby Nightingale ACCOUNTS Financial Controller: Nick Crampton Accounts: Margaret Roberts, Alexandra Buchlakova PRODUCTION & DESIGN Magazine Design: Optic Juice Production Manager: Jon Cooke Pictures: Getty Images News: AAP, SAPA, NZPA DIGITAL & IT Head of digital marketing and development : Syed Ahmad TNT PUBLISHING CEO: Kevin Ellis Chairman: Ken Hurst Publisher: TNT Publishing Ltd Australia and New Zealand Outlook, The Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4SF TNT Magazine, 10 Greycoat Place, London. SW1P 1SB Tntmagazine.com ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0)1603 3432267 Fax: +44 (0)1603 283602 Email: ian.armitage@tntmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Call: +44 (0)1603 343267 Email: subscriptions@anzoutlook.com
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Gateway to NZ’s South Island
On 22 February 2011, Christchurch was ripped apart by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake. 181 people were killed and the centre of the city was very badly damaged. Jonathan Ling, the chief executive of Fletcher Building, the company appointed by the Government as project manager for the reconstruction of homes, has said it could take up to 20 years of rebuilding to restore Christchurch following the quake that wrecked a third of its central business district. Tourism in the area, as you might have guessed, has been dealt a huge blow, but Christchurch still has every right to call itself the gateway to the South Island… and delivers sublime travel experiences. Christchurch’s International Airport is open and operating as usual, and many hotels and hostels are still open for business. If you head out of town, there are only a few reminders of the quake. Read more on page 30. This month we also look at New Zealand’s job market, house hunting Down Under, travelling in Perth, and Aussie sports. We’ve got news, essential travel information, expert advice and top tips as well. The adventure starts here! Ian Armitage Editor AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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CONTENTS
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34 PAGE
44
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48
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38 PAGE
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CONTEN
TS
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06 News tchurch s i r h C 10 Migration Update 14 Ask the expert city Quake-stricken to NZ’s still a gateway South Island
Mila Slaneva and Elena Kirova of Taxback.com answers your questions
20 What's on...
Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month
hHuntin ouse
s aland’ ew Zeket e to N A guid using mar ho
g
NZ Jobs new jobs by 2015 200,000
PLUS
22 NZ Jobs
38 Sport
26 Expat profile
44 House
Department of Labour estimates 200,000 new jobs by 2015
Migrating to Sydney from England is a “new adventure” for Suzanne and Phil Morley
30 Christchurch Christchurch still has every right to call itself the gateway to the South Island, says Ian Armitage
34 Working Down Under
Chris Farnell talks with Bethan King, who moved to Brisbane from Wales in 2007
rt,
, Ask the Expe
Migration news
Perth, What’s on…
Australia and New Zealand’s top sports events
hunting NZ
A guide to New Zealand’s housing market
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Traveller's guide... Perth
Chris Farnell visits Perth
52 Ask the
traveller
Your questions answered by our intrepid traveller AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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NEWS Baby rescued from burning home A baby girl has been miraculously saved from a burning house. Rescuers Tony Morris and Warwick Todd smashed a bedroom window to rescue the trapped youngster. They had no idea where the eight-monthold baby was inside the house. But, they guessed right and broke the correct window. Morris said he was driving down a
Melbourne street when he saw smoke. He quickly detoured to the Bentleigh East home which was fully alight and found a 23-year-old mother standing out the front, hysterical, screaming that her baby was inside. The mother had suffered burns to her face as she escaped the blazing Surrey Street house carrying her other child, aged two-and-a-half.
CE U D E R O T VES O M A R T S TEL
E N O H P E L I B O M ”
K C O H S L L I B “
omers from tect its cust ro p r te et b it could customers e il to b o m rprise bills. er sum ve to be able e’s su n o h p Telstra con r omers deser ei st th ra cu st se r u u el T to “O r f thei e able pabilities o of an soon will b ca sk ll ri fu e, e e rg th th la t of a enjoy e withou without fear nly o es data servic il m b o m m co d d l, a spee s post-pai ly high bil slowing dat y B l. unexpected il b d . pecte eir data bill shock” ill unex exceeded th w s as h er m known as “ er o m st o tra scheme, cu once a cust ing for the ex Under a new when they d not charg ed ar an w , o ce u sl o s an h d w allo d wit t fe ata spee ay connecte ce and st an have their d s w er lo m al o a st at . a, cu r mobile d et,” he said tic dat exceed thei cess domes the hip pock ex to r it data h fo r a ed ei f g o th char o have used will not be ectly stomers wh u ir d C p top-u pment data usage. l be able to lo il e w v e d d ce an in -s w allo es are me full pee The chang s end, sets to resu r’ d a e an y h r y b ei d th . ng from launche web browsi and will be ices such as rv se stem will a at sy d ts . data aler g n r ti ce Telstra said is ffi ex O ’s ges Telstra f Financial alert messa Telstra Chie s were ded so SMS an ra li g ra p u st e. u e b im A -t also r real ope said hones in omers in nea John Stanh tp st ar cu sm to t ry n g e se data-hun ed ar embracing stra recognis el T d an s er b record num
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ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Marmite banned in Denmark Denmark has banned Marmite because of the added vitamins and minerals it contains. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is responsible for the ban on
the spread, which breaks food laws passed in 2004. Marmite joins previously banned items including Australian alternative Vegemite, Ovaltine and various breakfast cereals.
“What am I supposed to put on my toast now?” British advertising executive Colin Smith asked the Daily Mail. “I still have a bit left in the cupboard, but it’s not going to last long.”
BP Port Hedland Terminal:
New Gantry Speeds-Up Loading
BP, the largest supplier of fuel to Australia’s mining and industrial sector, has announced that a new and higher volume loading gantry at its Port Hedland fuel terminal in the Pilbara region of West Australia has been successfully commissioned and is now fully operational. The enhancements to the terminal include upgrades to the electrical systems and the installation of new higher capacity pumps.
When combined with the addition of a further two diesel loading arms, loading times at the terminal have been reduced by 40 percent. Paul Waterman, President of BP Australasia, said; “The phased upgrade of the Port Hedland terminal is a A$45 million project which signals our commitment to customers in the Pilbara.”
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NEWS BORROWERS WARNED
ON RATE RISE
be Borrowers have been warned to expected, higher interest rates wer e likely expect a rate rise by August as the Aus to be required at som e point,” the RBA central bank acts to control upw ard minutes said. pressures on prices. Economist Helen Kevans from JP The central bank hasn’t given any Morgan said the RBA would wai t to see hints on when it might raise the cash whether price rises – caused by an inflation rate, but economists say the case for a surge in the March quarter followi ng the lift is very strong. natural disasters - had subsided. The minutes of the Reserve Ban k “By delaying a rate hike until Aug ust, of Australia’s (RBA) May 3 boa rd the RBA staff also would have the meeting showed the bank believe s the opportunity to explain the decisio n to hike current stance on monetary policy is in the quarterly statement that foll ows the appropriate. August Board meeting,” she said . The board left the cash rate at 4.75 “Waiting, though, carries risks the RBA percent - where it has been since the last may be forced to be more assertive later in rise in November 2010. pushing the cash rate further into restrictive “Members judged that if econom ic territory, given the even larger term s of conditions continued to evolve as trade and mining investment boo ms.”
Green light for NZ road project One of New Zealand’s most important new roads has been given the go ahead and is likely to be finished within five years. The Waterview Connection in Auckland is part of the $NZ2 billion Western Ring Route around the city. In 2009 the Government classified the Western Ring Route as one of seven roads
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of national significance. The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) would not break down the cost of the Waterview Connection, saying it would “fall within the allocated $NZ2bn in funding” for the Western Ring Route but on one of its web pages, said it would cost more than $NZ100 million. The Waterview connection includes two three-lane
tunnels, widening and raising the causeway and other capacity improvement works from St Lukes to Westgate on the Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16). When completed the entire Western Ring Route would be a 48km alternative route around Auckland, reducing the dependency on State Highway 1 through the city centre and over the harbour bridge.
ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Richie McCaw signs new
New Zealand deal
Wellington Airport
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has signed a new four-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which will keep him playing in his homeland beyond this year’s World Cup.
Wellington Airport says revenue from its retail property and trading activities rose by $NZ7.6 million in the year to March 31 from a year earlier, and aeronautical revenue increased by $NZ2.5 million.
McCaw has joined fly-half Dan Carter in overlooking potentially lucrative long-term offers to play abroad. However, the deal does allow him to take up a short-term overseas contract. “I’ve always said that as long as I am enjoying playing footy in New Zealand then I will stay,” he said.
Owned by Infratil and Wellington City Council, the Airport said revenue from its retail and vehicle operations rose and its advertising subsidiary iSite Ltd expanded. Overall, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and fair value adjustments and excluding subvention payments were $NZ72.3 million. Total revenue rose 9.7 percent to $NZ114.7 million. “Looking forward, current forecasts indicate improved conditions for the current financial year. A gradual economic recovery and the Rugby World Cup 2011 are expected to bolster demand,” the airport company said.
reports higher profit
NEWSINBRIEF e Qantas pilots are preparing to strik it but – s for the first time in 45 year will take up to three weeks before we know whether the strike will definitely take place. Qantas and pilots have been in negotiations over wages and job security since late last year, but no agreement has been reached. There’ll be a ballot of up to 1700 long haul pilots to determine what type of industrial action will be taken.
t Burma is set to Auckland Zoo’s beloved elephan approved a ncil get new companions after the cou Sri Lanka. Two proposal to import two young from r from Sri female elephants will be brought ove ion. mill Lanka at a cost of $NZ3.2 bourne An elderly widower who gave a Mel build a house has prostitute more than A$100,000 to y the money. failed in a court bid to get her to repa ci, 76, began Nes The County Court heard Michele ita Knell, 34, weekly sessions with a prostitute Wan 5. at his East Keilor home in July 200
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migration update NZ visitor numbers
Moranbah rebound after Queensland's most earthquake expensive town The central mining town of Moranbah has topped a list as the most expensive place to live in Queensland, according to a new survey. Moranbah came in as most expensive in a list of 43 towns, after the price of household goods and services was compared to prices in Brisbane in 2010. The town is 13.9 percent more expensive than Brisbane and leads the other mining towns of Blackwater, Mt Isa and Emerald in the list. The cheapest places are Maryborough, Charters Towers and Gympie, which were all more than seven percent cheaper than Brisbane. Thirty-five of the 43 towns in the full survey were cheaper than Brisbane. Treasurer Andrew Fraser said housing costs drive the results in the mining towns while low housing costs balanced out expensive groceries in remote towns, he said. “Not surprisingly, most of the areas above the Brisbane benchmark are in mining regions,” he told parliament. “These areas also have incomes well above the benchmark.”
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The number of visitor arrivals in New Zealand increased eight percent between March and April 2011. According to Statistics New Zealand (SNZ), this followed a 12 percent decrease between January and March 2011, influenced by the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February. “Despite the overall recovery, visitor arrivals from Japan and Korea were half the level seen last April,” acting Population Statistics manager Adele Quinn said. “Sharp declines in visitors from these countries began after the Christchurch earthquake, and before the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.” In contrast, there were twice as many visitors from Malaysia compared with April 2010. This followed the launch of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch in April 2011, and additional SingaporeAuckland flights that started in March 2011.
Keep track of the latest news and developments on moving Down Under
Cities growth plan launched What will the Australia of the future look like? Well we’ve come one step closer to answering that with the Federal Government’s release of its blueprint for the future of Aus’ 18 largest cities. The National Urban Policy: Our Cities, Our Future, released by federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, sets out a broad range of principles designed to underpin long-term urban growth and improve productivity. “Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world. Our cities play a pivotal role in securing the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of our nation,” Albanese said. Among the problems the policy aims to tackle is traffic congestion - Albanese said would it cost Australian business and families more than A$20 billion by 2020 if left unchecked. The National Urban Policy promotes better infrastructure planning and public transport, reducing carbon footprints and improved urban planning to meet the challenges of a population
growth, an ageing population and climate change. The nation’s 18 biggest cities are home to three in four Australians, produce 80 percent of national income and generate 75 percent of its jobs, the government says. They include every state and territory capital and large regional centres, such as Newcastle, Toowoomba and Sunshine Coast. For more info, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au.
Queensland open for business after floods “This was so bad and the coverage was just so extraordinary through January,” he said. “There was a view [internationally] that `I can’t go to Queensland because it’s either But getting this message across has been an been washed away or blown away’.” While many of the state’s most popular ongoing challenge for Tourism Queensland, s like the Gold Coast, Port Douglas destination which has been exploring new ways to and Hamilton Island were unaffected by bring spooked visitors back to Australia’s the disasters, tourist numbers plummeted “sunshine” state. nonetheless over the summer. oodwaters Dozens were killed when fl With an additional A$10 million inundated Queensland’s southeast in January, in funding from the state and federal and the state took another beating when the governments, Hayes said the tourism category-five Cyclone Yasi rolled through industry has tried to move beyond its image weeks later. as an exclusively `leisure’ state and is trying At a tourism conference in Sydney, the CEO of Tourism Queensland, Anthony Hayes, to attract key events. Tourism numbers were up considerably in said the start of 2011 could not have been Easter across Queensland, he said. more catastrophic for the industry.
They may have endured record floods and a devastating cyclone, but tourism operators in Queensland are back on their feet and open for business.
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migration update NZ needs more health, energy and finance staff New Zealand will require more workers with expertise in healthcare, infrastructure, financial services and green energy, according to recruiting experts Hays.
In the report ‘Creating Jobs in a Global Economy, 2011-2030’, compiled in partnership with economic forecaster Oxford Economics, Hays says that the ageing population and its healthcare needs, anticipated vast spending on infrastructure in developing countries, continued growth and increasing sophistication of financial services and a shift toward green energy will boost demand for skilled professionals. Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand, said, “Population, globalisation and technological advances will combine to influence the skills that will be most highly sought in New Zealand by 2030. “Over the next 20 years New Zealand, like the rest of the ageing developed world, will likely become chronically short of health workers. By contrast, the developing world will face a period
of rapid industrialisation and infrastructure construction, which will create a need for skilled and experienced workers currently unavailable in sufficient numbers domestically. “New Zealand will need to find a way to maintain our competitive edge in key industries by investing in the future skills required against a backdrop of a smaller and older pool of workers.” Walker added that most of the growth in demand for financial sector workers would occur in countries where the sector is already large. In New Zealand, demand for skilled staff in this area will remain strong, he said. “Climate change will lead to job creation in the development of green energy sources and in occupations needed to mitigate the impacts of global warming,” Walker added. “In the shortterm, this will include some increases in jobs to design, manufacture, install and operate the new renewable electricity generating plants.” Hays is the world’s leading recruitment expert in qualified, professional and skilled people.
Govt wants to make business burden easier
The federal government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a study with the aim of making it easier for businesses to operate.
ongoing regulatory reform is a key driver of productivity growth that ensures the economy remains strong and continues to create jobs. “That is why we have embedded regulatory reform It will pinpoint regulatory reform opportunities, as a core government activity, with a comprehensive while evaluating reform outcomes. agenda aimed at reducing red tape for businesses of all The study, which will replace the commission’s sizes,” Senator Sherry said in a statement. fifth annual review of regulatory burdens on “We are driving this reform process business, will seek public submissions and report both at a national level through COAG (the back to the government within six months. Council of Australian Governments) and at a The minister assisting on deregulation, Nick commonwealth level through better regulation Sherry, says the Gillard government recognises ministerial partnerships.” 12
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Aus federal government defends
population strategy Australia’s federal government has defended its population strategy’s lack of targets, arguing it is less about numbers and more about building better communities. Announcing the policy, Population Minister Tony Burke argued that population growth was not necessarily good for the nation and the economy. The policy does not set an overall population target, he said. “If you have communities that want to be able to grow and have significant economic opportunities in front of them, they should be able to get targeted growth through targeted immigration and by unlocking the housing supply. “The market is driving regional development in a
way that never used to happen.” Former Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd - who as prime minister supported a call by business leaders for a “big Australia” to boost economic growth - initiated the report 12 months ago to counter the
in urban planning and technology, and getting governments, business and communities to work more closely. Part of the strategy aims to ensure that migrants do not automatically move to the outer suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne but rather consider living in regional areas. The budget included new regional and enterprise-based agreements to fasttrack more skilled coalition’s population policy. migrants into mining The coalition argued that boom areas. the Treasury-projected figure “Those communities of an Australian population of suffering from congestion 36 million people by 2050 was and where infrastructure too high and that immigration hasn’t kept up have a levels should be tightened. perfect right to say `Growth When Julia Gillard took for its own sake won’t work the Labor leadership she in our part of Australia’,” raised doubts about Rudd’s Burke said. approach but let the The government would review continue. look at ways of encouraging The policy argues for hubs of employment outside more efficient use of CBDs to help reduce traffic resources, improvements congestion, he said. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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ASK THE EXPERT Expert advice on all things visas, migration and more
Q
My plan is currently to move to Aus in September. I’ve worked in the UK and will continue to up until that point. Will I be entitled to any tax back? What will I be entitled to? Stuart, Norwich
A
?Stuart, whether you will be entitled to get any UK tax back depends on your residency status. Your are going to question does not state whether you /indefinitely Australia short term or permanently Australia to d nde or whether you are being seco ered off cov e by your employer. Therefore, I hav the basics of each scenario.
, there is also If you return to the UK in 2012-13 due for 2012be may nd the possibility that a refu the level of on s 13. Again however, this depend n you’ll need to your Australian earnings and agai ign earnings file a UK Tax Return to report fore it. cred tax and claim the associated you are You should also consider whether return you e due a refund of Australian Tax onc to get your to the UK. Contact taxback.com taxes. free no obligation estimate for both
ort Term Sh 1 period (i.e. less Secondment - ESC A1 If you are going for a short term r employer to If you are being seconded by you ity remain than a year) you will in all probabil UK tax on to le liab UK resident and you will be . 1-12 your worldwide earnings for 201 Australia from me inco ign fore If you have a UK Tax in 2011-12 you will need to file any income g rtin Return for 2011-2012 repo loyment in you have received from your emp on any of your Australia. You will owe UK tax ic Personal worldwide earnings above the Bas not was ch Allowance of £7,475 and whi y, entl the level covered by UK PAYE. Consequ in large part of any UK tax refund will depend ings. For on the level of your Australian earn income an trali example, if you have no Aus ly likely because you are travelling, it is high UK tax for that you will be due a refund of 2011-12.
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advantage of Australia you may be able to take . Extra Statutory Concession A11 terms of ESC the er und fall Basically if you dent for UK resi non A11 you will be deemed r departure tax purposes from the date of you there is to the date of your return. As such ld be due a a strong possibility that you wou have used not will refund of UK tax as you your full personal allowance. the In order to qualify under ESC A11 time service individual must go abroad for full such that: under a contract of employment United the individual’s absence from the lf both Kingdom and the employment itse complete extend over a period covering a and ; ) Apr tax year (6th Apr – 5th
Q
Hi guys, do you have any tips on easiest and cheapest ways of taking my money to Australia? Andy, London Dear Andy, we recommend you visit our sister company Transfermate at www.transfer mate.com, were you can benefit from the following : Transfer money faster and cheaper than using online banking. Exchange rates are updated every three seconds. Book all of your payments online in real time. Payments by EFT or wire transfer Simply cheaper and better.
A
gdom any interim visits to the United Kin to unt amo not during the period do r; or o 183 days or more in any tax yea a in e o an average of 91 days or mor the tax year (the average is taken over m imu max a to up e period of absenc of four years); and
te orTerm efaneinintly enthet/IUKndperm an rm Pe e leav If you
non resident indefinitely you will be treated as you will from the day of departure. Again under nt tme trea need to claim split-year As you urn. ESC A11 and file a UK Tax Ret date of will become non-resident from the a refund departure, you will be entitled to full had e hav of UK tax as you will not ces. wan entitlement to your personal allo
mmary Su complex and As you can see the issue can be
umstances is determined by your personal circ ack.com is and intentions. Our team at taxb with a free you ide more than happy to prov e specific estimation if you can provide mor ck.com or details. Visit our site at www.taxba at: request a call back from our team Register.asp uk_ om/ https://www.secure.taxback.c
My husband’s current employer has offered him a job in Aus. He is n. We’re a UK citizen; I’m Australia ving back thinking about doing mo y) and have home (in my case anywa Will he be loads of questions. One is… his salary on better off paying UK tax ed contractor or acting as a self-employ and paying Aus tax? Lou, London
Q
A
Dear Lou, your husband’s tax liabilities in the UK and Australia will depend on his residency status in both countries . Whether you are resident in the UK or Australia (or indeed both) is not som ething which is open to choice however; it is a matter of fact and so I am afraid that your question is not as simple as recommendi ng one or the other. From your question I infer that you are looking to move to Australia permanen tly. In this case, you and your husband can claim under ESC A11 and will be treat ed as non UK residents from the date of your departure. UK non residents are only chargeable to UK tax on UK sour ce income. From your query, it seems high ly unlikely you will have any sources of income from the UK. As such you shou ld have no liability to UK tax. As you are moving to Australia permanently, you will become Australi an resident and as such subject to Australi an tax, and the most appropriate question will then become whether it is more bene ficial to work under a contract of service (employment) or a contract for service (self employment).
AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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ASK THE EXPERT
Q
ANZOutlook, I’m considering movin g to Australia. I want ed to know more ab out income tax there. Basical ly, how much of m y Australian wage would end up in my pocket? I pa y a fortune in UK tax at the mom ent. I wondered if it wa s any better over th ere? James, Newcastle
A
James, assuming that you will go back to Australia for a long period and be considered as resident for tax purposes, the standard individual tax office rates in Australia are: Tax rates 2010-11 Taxable income
Tax on this income
0 - A$6,000 A$6,001 - A$37,000
Nil
A$180,001 and over
A$54,550 plus 45c for each A$1 over A$180,000
15c for each A$1 over A$6,000 A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each A$1 over A$37,000 A$80,001 - A$180,000 A$17,550 plus 37c for each A$1 over A$80,000
The net amount that you can get really depends on the amount of your earnings. Also, it is a good idea to use a tax agent in Australia in order to maximise your tax refund by including your work related expenses and thus decreasing your tax obligation. You will be also liable to pay Superannuation if you are working in Australia and your wages are more than A$450.00 per month. In this case, your employer will generally contribute an amount equal to 9 percent of your wage into a superannuation account for you. For more information, visit http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?doc=/ content/64150.htm&mnu=43661&mfp=001/002
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Q
If you were to work in Aus sponsored by a company (or not) is there a tax break that goes towards accommodation? I understand you can get two-thirds towards accommodation!?! How does that work? Who you organises it? What do . Etc ? im have to do to cla ich rw Stuart, No
A
Stuart, the if and what is the limit of the subsistence expenses you can claim, and how your claim is going to be organised depends on the following factors; where the company sponsoring you is based, the type of occupation and contract you are employed under, your residency status, your tax filing requirements in both UK and Australia and many other tax related factors that may arise before and during employment. Australian-based employers can pay Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) which is an allowance paid to employees as compensation for the additional expenses and inconvenience faced by employees who are required to live away from home to perform employment duties. Part of this payment may be non-taxable for Australian tax purposes.
Q
I wanted to know of any examples where Brits are exempt from paying tax down under? Can you help?
Mark, London
A
Mark, British citizens are not exempt from paying income tax in Australia on their employment income. The amount of taxes to be paid depends on the resid ential tax status in the country. If you are resident for tax purp oses in Australia, the following tax rates apply: Tax rates 2010-11
Taxable income 0 - A$6,000
Tax on this income
Nil
A$6,001 - A$37,000 15c for each A$1 over A$6,000 A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$4,650 plus 30c for each A$1 over A$37,000 A$80,001 A$17,550 plus 37c for each A$1 over A$80,000 A$180,000 A$180,001 and over
A$54,550 plus 45c for each A$1 over
A$180,000
In all the cases, when you have earn ed more than the tax-free threshold you can use a tax agent who can maximise your refund by using the tax deductions accepted by the Australian taxation ofďŹ ce. If you do not meet the tax residency crite ria in Australia, the following non-resident income tax rates apply: Tax rates 2010-11 Taxable income 0 - A$37,000 A$37,001 - A$80,000 A$80,001 - A$180,000
A$180,001 and over
Tax on this income
29c for each A$1 A$10,730 plus 30c for each A$1 over
A$37,000
A$60,630 plus 45c for each A$1 over
A$80,000 A$180,000
A$23,630 plus 37c for each A$1 over
You will be also liable to pay Superan nuation if you are working in Australia and your monthly wages are more than A$450.00. In this case your employer will generally contribute an amount equal to 9 percent of your wage into a supe rannuation account for you. For more information, visit www.ato .gov.au/individuals/content. aspx?doc=/content/64150.htm&m nu=43661&mfp=001/002
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ASK THE EXPERT
Q
hen I o – love it. W ag s th on m to Aus six ing to rent it ook, I moved . Now I’m go it n y ow I . Hi ANZOutl K the U in Aus (safet t my flat in long I’d be ow h ow e n moved I kep k hat ar idn’t ting it out, w before as I d ning on ren n out. I didn’t la p m I’ on is, now Jim, Perth it? net!). Questi income from e th on x ta for my options
A
Dear Jim, irrespective of your residency position for UK tax, I am afraid that as the rental income be will be UK source income you will subject to UK tax on the income. for six As you have been out of the UK Non a as months, you will be classed d nee Resident Landlord (NRL). You will Other to file an annual UK Tax Return. disclosed be to d nee will information which other r you on on that Return will depend r you sources of income and of course, residency position. agent As an NRL, the tenant or letting ent perc 20 at tax will be obliged to deduct er und from the rent unless you apply to grant the NRL scheme asking HMRC gross. permission to receive the rents n the mea not s Please note that this doe means only income is exempt from tax; it flow you can avoid incurring the cash percent 20 ing hav from e issues which aris deducted at source.
T R E P X e E H T T U O B A
you Permission is normally granted but are up irs affa tax UK r need to confirm you ually. ann urn Ret to date and agree to file a e, itur end In terms of tax deductible exp r clea is not you say you own your flat but it e on the to me whether you have a mortgag ble ucti ded tax flat. Mortgage interest is the ly eral against rental income and is gen m for: biggest expense. You can also clai rents etc. nd grou ce, ran Rents, rates, insu renewals and ance Property repairs, mainten er Legal, management and oth
professional fees enses Please also note that the above exp rred incu are can only be claimed if they rse of wholly and exclusively in the cou a British the rental property business. As to the citizen, you continue to be entitled UK personal allowances. L Taxback.com has a specialist NR hassle out service which can take all of the site or of filing your Return. Visit our web at team our request a call back from egister.asp https://www.secure.taxback.com/uk_R Mila These questions were answered by sultants, Slaneva and Elena Kirova, Tax Con – Oz & and Stoyan Dimov, Team Leader . New Zealand Tax, Taxback.com Contact details: Freephone 0808 2381 611, email uk@taxback.com, or visit www.taxback.com/anzoutlook
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What’s on... th Maori New Year 2011 New Zealand
4jun-e 4july
Matariki, the unique cultural festival celebrating the dawning of Māori New Year, will start earlier this year with the Pleiades star formation due to first appear over New Zealand on 4 June one of the first events being held on the North Island’s East Coast, the location also famous for being the first in the world to see the sun. WWW.NEWZEALAND.COM
th Queenstown Winter
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Festival
Queenstown, New Zealand The Queenstown Winter Festival is the Southern Hemisphere’s ultimate winter party, held in celebration of winter in the mountains. The festival has been a huge success for over 30 years and attracts visitors from all over New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Japan and around the globe. WWW.WINTERFESTIVAL.CO.NZ
Cup Carnival st Darwin Darwin, Northern Territory
2jul-y 1aug
The Darwin Cup Carnival officially kicks off on Saturday 2 July 2011 and culminates in the running of the Darwin Cup on Monday 1 August 2011. The programme also features Ladies Day, where the ladies can show off their finery and enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a glass of bubbly. WWW.DARWINTURFCLUB.ORG.AU
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Our guide to the unmissable events, holidays and celebrations in Australia and New Zealand this month Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta Darwin, Northern Territory A regatta like no other, with boats primarily built entirely from aluminium beer cans, this annual family event is a spectacle for all who line Mindil Beach and cheer on the home-made boats as they flounder and sink in the shallows. There are loads of activities and competitions for everyone to do which are held throughout the day.¬
10 th july
WWW.BEERCANREGATTA.ORG.AU
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Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne, Victoria 21 Jul – 7 Aug This iconic event has a devoted audience. The Melbourne International Film Festival is a feast of cinema, heavily garnished with parties and special events that envelop the CBD. It turns 60 this year, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the world (one year younger than Cannes!).
WWW.MELBOURNEFILMFESTIVAL.COM.AU
Walking with Spirits
MELBOURNE CUP
Katherine, Northern Territory Walking with Spirits is presented by Djilpin Arts in partnership with the Australian Shakespeare Company and is an annual celebration of the Beswick Community’s culture and heritage, featuring traditional corroborees from several Arnhem Land languages. Malkgulumbu (Beswick Falls), with its picturesque lake and cliffs, provides the perfect natural setting for the show.
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working down under
New
Zealand Jobs in
Department of Labour estimates 200,000 new jobs by 2015.
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By Ian Armitage
d
N
ew Zealand boasts an abundance of enviable lifestyle opportunities - spectacular scenery, easy access to outdoor activities, less stressful working environments, excellent schools and child-friendly communities, straightforward and hospitable people… and JOBS, plenty of jobs! Over 20,000 permanent and long-term migrants made New Zealand their home last year. And it is easy to see why. It has proven to be a great place for businesses to grow and prosper – and the country is full of opportunities for skilled migrants to develop their careers. Business confidence in the country is up; employers all over New Zealand are telling us that they need more skilled workers. Where are the jobs? Well, retail trade, hospitality and business services are likely to lead the way in creating around 200,000 new jobs by 2015, the Department of Labour’s quarterly report, Likely Areas of Growth in Employment Opportunities, suggests. While the February earthquake has dampened short-term business confidence, employment is expected to rise, particularly as the Canterbury rebuild gets underway. Head of research, Vasantha Krishnan, said the outlook for the primary sector is positive, with agriculture and forestry continuing to be strong. “While our forecasts for the retail sector contrast with the current subdued conditions, we are anticipating a stronger recovery, particularly in the later years of the forecast period. “Construction is also likely to exit the doldrums as the Canterbury rebuild gets
underway and increased confidence is reflected in greater activity.” A recovery in manufacturing is expected to continue, led by food, beverage, machinery and equipment production. This will be mostly centred on Auckland. The largest job increases are expected to be for managers in fields such as information technology, human resources, sales and marketing, engineering, finance, advertising and public relations, retail and construction. According to recruiting experts Hays, meanwhile, New Zealand will require more workers with expertise in healthcare, infrastructure, financial services and green energy.
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working down under In the report ‘Creating Jobs in a Global Economy, 2011-2030’, compiled in partnership with economic forecaster Oxford Economics, Hays says that the ageing population and its healthcare needs, anticipated vast spending on infrastructure in developing countries, continued growth and increasing sophistication of financial services and a shift toward green energy will boost demand for skilled professionals. “Population, globalisation and technological advances will combine to influence the skills that will be most highly sought in New Zealand by 2030,” said Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “Over the next 20 years New Zealand, like the rest of the ageing developed
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world, will likely become chronically short of health workers,” he added. “By contrast, the developing world will face a period of rapid industrialisation and infrastructure construction, which will create a need for skilled and experienced workers currently unavailable in sufficient numbers domestically. “New Zealand will need to find a way to maintain our competitive edge in key industries by investing in the future skills required against a backdrop of a smaller and older pool of workers.” Walker said that most of the growth in demand for financial sector workers would occur in countries where the sector is already large.
In New Zealand, demand for skilled staff in this area will remain strong, he says. “The increasing number of elderly people will raise demand for healthcare professionals. Across the globe, the numbers of over 65s are forecast to increase by 446 million. Countries will need to devote increasing numbers to work in the healthcare industry or increase inward migration. “Climate change will lead to job creation in the development of green energy sources and in occupations needed to mitigate the impacts of global warming. In the shortterm, this will include some increases in jobs to design, manufacture, install and operate the new renewable electricity generating
plants. As new fuels are developed, the technology will be used in a wider range of vehicles and consumer goods, which will require new production lines or the refit of existing ones. But it is also likely to lead to job losses in industries closely connected to the generation and use of fossil fuels. “The industrialisation of some of the larger emerging markets is likely to lead to the need for considerable infrastructure investment, and so significant demand for skilled labour in the construction and engineering sectors. This will require inward migration of highly skilled temporary construction workers. These are likely to include architects, civil engineers and experienced trades people. It should also increase the demand for more permanent skilled labour in the production of engineering and mechanical goods.” In all of these cases demand for employees and for skilled workers ing to v o m will increase. mend sted in intere ighly recom d expo e r “These four issues will a ealan If you land, we h Z w e obviously not be the only ea nN New Z Working i s July: i e issues or changes to h h t gt ds visitin in Lee impact on the skilled 2011 mouries y l u labour market over J r 0 09 - 1 ite Royal A eeds s L the next 20 years; but ppo are, Hall (o ouries Squ 1: s e l i they give good guides v m 1 Sa m), Ar y, 9 July 20 u e s u to what skills will M da Satur am - 4.00pm 1: 0 1 be needed and how 0 0 . 2 10 0 July m 1 , y a employers can ensure Sund am - 3.00p 6 1 businesses’ needs are r 10.00 e en und r d l i h met most efficiently,” .00 C ts £15 are free. s o C Walker concluded. t icke of age Each T years There are lots of wonderful opportunities for Brits in New Zealand.
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Expat PROFILE
Suzanne’s story…
Migrating to Sydney from England is a “new adventure” for Suzanne and Phil Morley. But as Suzanne tells Australia and New Zealand Outlook, it was something she initially had no interest in doing.
Expat in brief ley (41) NAME: Suzanne Mor
Underwriter e nc ra su In : on ti a up Occ Stortford, Moved from: Bishop's Hertfordshire Moved to: Sydney
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Q: When did you first decide to move Down Under? A: We first started talking about it in October 2010 when a job opportunity for my husband, Phil, arose. In early December 2010 Phil was offered the job and we decided to go for it. Q: What inspired/motivated the move? A: Having the opportunity to do something different and enabling our children (two boys, aged nine and six) to have new experiences. We also spoke to a number of people who had lived here or knew someone here or were living here, and we received so much positive feedback we felt we just had to give it a go. Q: Describe life before the move? What was it like? A: Chaos, stressful and busy…. we were both working in London and we didn’t feel that we had a quality of life that was fulfilling enough. Phil hardly saw the boys during the week as he’d generally go out early and get home late. It never felt as though we had enough free time to do the things we really wanted to do. We are an outdoors family, but in the UK that either costs money or isn’t on your doorstep.
Q: Were you looking for a fresh start? A: I guess it was a new adventure, but we didn’t feel the need for a fresh start. On paper we had a good life in the UK – we both had good jobs, a nice house, we were financially secure, enjoyed great holidays and had lots of friends. The boys enjoyed their school. But this was an opportunity that we felt we couldn’t turn down. Q: Is it something you always wanted to do? A: No! I visited Australia about 20 years ago spending a month mostly in Canberra staying with friends and I loved it! But it was never a desire for either of us to live here. Phil hadn’t even been here before we actually moved. In 1998 we moved to Germany and lived there for two years, and when we returned I told Phil that I would never again live in a country where I couldn’t speak the language, but that I would consider living abroad if the right opportunity came up. And this seemed to be it!
Q: When you opted to move Down Under, where did you start? A: We knew that Phil would be working in the CBD in Sydney, so we went online, bought some books and researched from there. Q: Was it a tough decision? A: More so for me than for Phil! He loves travelling and is never happier than when he’s planning the next holiday! When we got married 12 years ago he persuaded me that I would love our “romantic honeymoon” which was three weeks backpacking through Vietnam…so you can see the kind of guy he is… For him it was a no-brainer…providing I was 100 percent committed to it. It took me a little while to agree that we should come, and there were many wobbles along the way, but once the decision was made I knew it was right. Q: Did you get any help with the move? A: Phil’s company were moving us, so we got help from a relocation agent. However we mostly did a lot of the searching ourselves online – how people ever relocated without the internet, I don’t know! Q: Did they explain the process… what did you go through? And did you find it useful? A: They were particularly good once we arrived, helping us find a house and school, helping with the mountains of paperwork, and advising on the Aussie way of doing things. Q: How much did the advice cost? A: Phil’s company picked up the costs of the relocation. However we paid for a car search company who, for A$175, found us the car we wanted, got us a very good deal, helped with all the paperwork (again mountains of the stuff!) and sorted the insurance. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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Expat PROFILE Q: Was the move difficult? A: The move was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever dealt with! We decided to have our furniture shipped before we left knowing that we could borrow in the UK… at this time we didn’t realise that there are some great furniture rental companies who totally kit out your home until your container arrives. So, at the beginning of January 2011 our house was packed, just leaving the possessions we could carry over on the plane. We then “camped” in our house with borrowed airbeds and garden furniture! Probably the hardest thing of all though was saying all of the goodbyes – I got through many boxes of Kleenex. At the same time I had to stay strong and positive for the boys as they were equally upset at leaving their friends and school, and the house and town they had always known. Q: How long did the immigration process take? A: We’ve come over on a four-year 457 Visa, which the company sponsored – I think it took about four weeks to come through. Q: Where did you move? Why that location? Does it have a lot to offer? A: We have rented a house in a suburb of Sydney called Lindfield. It is in the Upper North Shore area and we chose it for a number of reasons: it’s on the train line into the CBD, the journey taking about 25 minutes; it’s very green with established trees, golf courses, parks and reserves; the schools are good and close by; we’re close to the city, the beaches, shopping centres, but also benefit from the “village” feel of the area. 28
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Q: Did you go out and look at places first before leaving or did you make the leap? A: We just made the leap! As it had all happened so quickly there wasn’t really time to come out beforehand. Q: What date did you arrive in Oz? A: I arrived with the boys on the 10 February, 2011. Phil was already here having left the UK at the end of January, and in his first few days he had found us our house, enrolled the boys into school and started his new job. Q: Were you nervous? A: I wasn’t nervous at all… but I felt very sad at having left my family and friends. Q: What was the first day like? What did you do? A: We arrived into a very balmy Sydney at night. When we woke up the next morning we had to go to the boys school to complete some paperwork, and then Phil went off to work while the boys and I sweltered in the heat. In all honesty I did very little as the jet lag was pretty bad.
and met us there - and we went swimming and body-boarding, then had fish and chips on the beach! The weather plays a significant part in the improved lifestyle as we can do so much outside. Yes it rains – in fact this last weekend Sydney has had six weeks of rain in 24 hours – so instead of going to the beach we went to the Sydney Olympic Park and had a great time.
Q: Have you had any help settling in since? Have you been welcomed by the locals? A: The people we’ve met through the boys school have been very welcoming – it helps that a lot of people originate from the UK and therefore understand how difficult it is to start with. We’ve met the neighbours – again very nice people – and generally people are helpful and welcoming. Q: Are you enjoying the lifestyle? What are the best bits? A: Absolutely! At the moment I’m not working, which has made the whole transition a lot easier as I’m around to sort everything out. It is my intention to work again once we’re settled, but I would never have stopped working in the UK and this move has given me that opportunity which we are all benefitting from. We also love the fact that within a 30-minute drive we are at some of the best surf beaches around. In our second week I took the boys to Manly beach after school - Phil got the ferry from the city to Manly
Q: Was lifestyle a factor in the move? A: This was the main reason for coming. Our hope was that we would have more quality family time and the opportunity to experience a different country, culture, climate and pace of life. Q: Is it everything you expected? A: So far it is, yes! Q: Do you have any regrets? A: I am really missing my parents and close friends – we are talking on the phone, on Skype, email and Facebook, but it’s not the same and will never be. We’re not only a long way from home, but it’s expensive to get here. I’m making plenty of new acquaintances, but I know that it takes years to make true friends. Q: What piece of advice would you give other Brits wanting to move to Australia? A: Make sure that you are financially secure. Living here is very expensive (food, rent, bills, clothes, shoes, school fees) and you need a substantial amount of money behind you to pay for the initial start-up costs (for example, if you are coming on a 457 Visa and you have children you have to pay A$4,500 per year per child to attend state school.) AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE
Christchur Quake-stricken city still a gateway to NZ’s South Island
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rch By Ian Armitage
O
ften referred to as the most English city outside England, Christchurch (“the garden city”) is the scenic gateway to some of the most stunning vistas and best adventure playgrounds of New Zealand’s South Island. Following a deadly earthquake in February, the city’s landscape has changed forever, and tourism has been dealt a blow.
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE 6.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE
On 22 February 2011, Christchurch was ripped apart. 181 people were killed and the centre of the city was very badly damaged. Many people heading to New Zealand now wonder what they will find in Christchurch: Hundreds of buildings lie in ruin; most of the city’s landmarks are awaiting reconstruction or demolition; and some major streets in the city centre remain closed. The destruction is incredible. There’s so much to fix. However, you can still visit. Christchurch International Airport is open and operating as usual, and many hotels and hostels are still operating. If you head out of Christchurch, there are only a few reminders of the earthquake; expect to see bumpy roads and some cracked buildings. The Waipara Wine Valley’s wineries, in the north, remain open and serve up some of the best local produce, while the North Canterbury Food & Wine Trail is operating as normal. Tourists are still bungee jumping off the narrow bridge to Hanmer Springs and relaxing in its public hot springs (it’s just 90km away from the worst effects of the earthquake). Tourism in the area has been dealt a blow, but Christchurch still has every right to call itself the gateway to the South Island… and still delivers sublime travel experiences.
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Things to do Skiing: Mt Hutt Situated 80km west of Christchurch is the Mt Hutt ski-field where you can strap on the snowboard and carve up the powder from June to October. Only an hour’s drive from Christchurch, the ski-field is one of the largest and busiest in the South Island with slopes catering for all levels. Alpine train journey The 223km TranzAlpine rail link between Christchurch and Greymouth cuts through the heart of the Southern Alps with vistas straight out of a Peter Jackson movie. Passengers can take in the breathtaking scenery from the comfort of their seat, the on-board cafe, or an open-air carriage for those wanting a blast of mountain air up their nostrils.
Hanmer hot pools Built around a mountain hot spring roughly 90km north of Christchurch, the town of Hanmer is as popular today as it was 150 years ago when people flocked to soak in its geothermal heated waters. Today the hot spring still warms skiers, mountain bikers and other adventure thrill-seekers, or those passing through to the West Coast via Lewis Pass. Vineyards Although overshadowed by the grape growing prowess of Marlborough, the Canterbury region boasts several top vineyards, many of which welcome visitors with tours and tastings. Waipara Wine Valley’s wineries are a must see. Whale watching The coastal town of Kaikoura – 180km north of Christchurch must not be missed. With its mountain backdrop, the nutrient rich waters off the coast boat swarms of migrating whales stocking up on food as they travel between Antarctic waters and the tropics. Hop on one of the whale watching www.whalewatch. co.nz boats and catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures before devouring a crayfish – a local delicacy. Mt Cook It’s mostly all about mountains in the South Island and today is when you check out the big one – Mt Cook. Named after the famous British explorer James Cook, New Zealand’s tallest peak stands at 3,574 meters, and is a truly breathtaking sight. Its Maori name, Aoraki, means “cloud piercer” and on the clear day its majestic peak can be seen for miles. Mt Cook is roughly 330km from Christchurch. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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working down under
Story Beth’s By Chris Farnell
D
eciding to move to another continent, let alone another hemisphere, is a huge step. But you’re not the first to consider it. We had a chat with Bethan King, who moved to Brisbane from Wales in 2007. Given that she’s working as a careers counselor, she seemed like the ideal person to tell us about the pros and cons of working Down Under.
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Making the Move Like many people, Beth and her family first fell in love with Australia after paying it a visit. She tells us, “In 2004 we visited Australia for a holiday and my husband Neil attended a conference in Brisbane where he made some contacts with people in the same area of work as him. After our return home we spoke about exploring the
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to settle here. There are many migrant families in Brisbane, both from overseas and interstate and this fosters a feeling of camaraderie possibilities of spending a year in Australia and were fortunate enough to set this up. In September 2005 we arrived in Brisbane on a year of adventure. I negotiated a year-long career break with my employer as did Neil so it was a relatively risk free plan. The year progressed very quickly and towards the end of the 12 months Neil was given the opportunity to apply for a permanent position and was consequently successful.”
Looking back, Beth is very glad she got the chance to take a look at Brisbane before moving there: “We were very fortunate to be able to try the place out before we emigrated. Work contacts restricted us to Brisbane, but we also have some family here so that was another pull.” Because the family was moving to Australia on a work visa, the paperwork was relatively straightforward. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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working down under
“Neil’s employer organised his temporary one year visa and I tagged on as a spouse!” Beth explains. “I was restricted in the fact that I was not able to work, but this suited us at the time as our daughter was preschool age. “When the decision was made to emigrate, again Neil’s employer organised things for us and we came here on a sponsored visa. We had to complete quite a bit of paperwork, organise the necessary medicals and police checks and then cross fingers that everything was processed
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in time. We had about a five month turnaround - and just made it!” Once the paperwork was sorted and the move was made, Beth and her family found it surprisingly easy to set down roots: “I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to settle here. There are many migrant families in Brisbane, both from overseas and interstate and this fosters a feeling of camaraderie. During our very first week here whilst at a playground with our daughter another mother detected a different accent and entered into a conversation about playgroups, local places to go, the best coffee shops etc. Everyone was genuinely helpful and wanted to share snippets of useful information with us.”
What You Leave Behind Although Beth found the move pretty straightforward, she has a few hints and tips for anyone trying to follow in her footsteps! “I wish that I had kept some of my winter coats!” she tells us. “I falsely believed that it was always sunny and warm in Australia, and maybe it is in the North. Even here
in Brisbane there are mornings when it feels really chilly. “I also wish I had known how expensive good quality furniture is here – I would have stocked up and shipped it out on our container.” Much as she loves Australia, there are things that she misses from the green and pleasant land. “For the first year or so I missed the changing seasons,” Beth admits. “But I am beginning to notice the changes here – however subtle. I continue to miss certain foods and shops and have to stock up on visits home or when family come and stay here. “Since moving away from Britain, I have a greater appreciation of the diversity of the landscape, the proximity of European destinations and the vast differences in the architecture of the buildings.” Of course, most of all, Beth misses the friends and family she has in the UK. But being half a planet away isn’t the obstacle it once was. “Technology makes the world feels much smaller,” Beth says. “The Internet and social media allow me to keep in contact and catch up with the goings on across the waters. I also have an Internet radio and I tune into my favourite UK radio stations and programmes, albeit that I am nine or ten hours out of sync!”
Good Times in the Sunshine State British foodstuffs and radio stations aside, Beth and her family have found the move to be a good one, and are keen to sing the praises for Brisbane. “Brisbane is in Queensland which is called the Sunshine State, so most days of the year the sky is blue and the sun shines!” Beth says. “This inevitably puts a smile on your face and makes you feel good. It’s just like
those lovely summer days in the UK when everyone feels in a better mood because the sun is shining.” As well as enjoying the sunny weather, Beth has also come to love the friendliness of the Australian people: “I also appreciate the family focus here. Get togethers will always involve the whole family whether that’s a breakfast at the park or an evening BBQ. A lot of socialising is done at home or a local park so the atmosphere is relaxed.” Deciding to live and work in Australia was a huge decision, but Beth seems pretty satisfied with the way it’s turned out. It’s been good for both her and her husband’s careers, but it has also introduced them to a great place to raise their family: “The sub-tropical climate makes it a pleasant environment to bring up children as they get to experience an active outdoor lifestyle. Australians on the whole are happy, relaxed and laid back people and are very welcoming. It was easy to make friends and settle in to the local community.” AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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sport
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! t r o Sp G’day
Australia’s sporting calendar is diverse and action-packed.
By Ian Armitage
A
ussie and Kiwis are sports mad. From major international sporting events like the Grand Prix to the bizarre (Darwin’s Beer Can Regatta), there is a lot of sport Down Under. Here are the events you need to know…
Melbourne Cup
When: Novembe r Where: Melbour ne The Melbourne Cup is Australia ’s major thoroughbr ed horse race. Billed as “The ra ce that stops a nation”, it is a ra ce for three-year-olds an d over, over a distance of 3,20 0 metres. It is the richest and m ost prestigious “two-mile” hand icap in the world. It celebrat ed its 150th birthday in 2010 and is always at 3.00 pm AEST, on the first Tuesday in Novem ber.
WWW.MELBO
URNECUP.COM
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sport Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race When: Boxing day Where: Sydney and Hobart The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (sometimes called the ‘Bluewater Classic’ in the Aussie media) starts on Boxing Day, December 26, and is an iconic part of the Australian summer. You don’t need to be a sailing buff to enjoy the race and you can watch the yachts sail out of the harbour heads with a picnic, barbeque or boat cruise on Sydney Harbour. You can also cheer as they cross the finish line in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations in Hobart. In Sydney, watching the start of the race is a Boxing Day tradition. Secure yourself a spot amongst the spectators lining the harbour foreshore - from Rushcutters Bay to Watsons Bay and the rugged cliffs of South Head. On the northern shore, vantage points include Cremorne Point, Bradleys Head and Clifton Gardens or past Manly to North Head. WWW.ROLEXSYDNEYHOBART.COM
AFL Grand Final
When: September Where: Melbourne The AFL Grand Final is an annual Aussie rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the MCG in Melbourne; it determines the AFL premiership champions for that year. The game has become significant to Australian culture, spawning a number of traditions, which have
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grown in popularity since the interstate expansion of the VFL in the 1980s and the subsequent creation of the national AFL competition in the 1990s. It has become an important sporting event, with a huge attendance. The winner of the Grand Final is presented with the AFL Premiership Cup and the Premiership Flag.
WWW.AFL.COM.AU
Australia Open When: January Where: Melbourne The first of the year’s four grand slam tennis events, Melbourne’s Australian Open attracts the world’s best players and huge crowds. Played on grass until 1987, but on hard courts at Melbourne Park ever since, it is the most exciting and least predictable grand slam on the calendar. WWW.AUSTRALIAOPEN.COM
Grand Prix When: March Where: Melbourne The Australian Grand Prix is the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. Currently held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne, the race takes place every March. If you are from Melbourne, there’s no missing the event, which takes place over four days. You’ll hear the distinctive pitch of elite Formula One racing cars across the city. You can watch the world’s fastest drivers vibrate past you at speeds of up to 300km/h, at the purpose-built track. WWW.GRANDPRIX.COM.AU
Boxing Day Test
When: Boxing Day Where: Melbourne There is nothing quiet like the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in Melbourne. The first day of the five-d ay match, between Australia and whichever nation is tour ing at the time, always sells out the 100,000 tickets well in advance. This is the place to be on Boxing Day. WWW.CRICKET.COM.AU
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sport Beer Can Regatta When: July Where: Darwin A regatta like no other, this annual family event is a spectacle for all who line Mindil Beach and cheer on homemade boats as they flounder and sink in the shallows. There are loads of activities and competitions for everyone to do, which are held throughout the day. The race essentially involves participants taking to the water in boats made primarily from beer cans – they’re not exactly sea-worthy. It is great for the spectator and the best way to view it is definitely from the shore, munching on snacks with a tinnie. The fact saltwater crocodiles occasionally frequent the waters doesn’t put the locals off. WWW.BEERCANREGATTA.ORG.AU
Rugby Union World Cup When: September and October Where: New Zealand The Rugby World Cup is the premier international rugby union competition. This year it will be held in New Zealand. The event is expected to cost about $NZ310 million to run and to generate $NZ280 million in ticket sales. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in the country; around 70,000 visitors from overseas are expected to travel to New Zealand for the tournament. WWW.RUGBYWORLDCUP.COM
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housing focus
hunting House
in New Zealand
By Chris Farnell
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o you’ve decided that New Zealand is the place for you, and why wouldn’t you? It’s a great place. But where exactly are you going to live? I don’t mean which city, I mean what building are you actually going to live in? House hunting isn’t the most relaxing pass-time even if you’re only moving a few streets away, so it’s understandable if you find the idea of moving to a different hemisphere a bit on the daunting side. But fear not, because Australia and New Zealand Outlook is here to help you out with some hints, tips, and an overview of what you can expect to get for your money.
The Market This is an excellent time to get in on the New Zealand housing market. Like pretty much everyone else, New Zealand saw house prices hit hard by the recession, but they are just recently starting to recover, and house prices are set to rise. As President of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand says, “Despite an abundance of good listings at present, we are still seeing prices going up as a result of strong demand from genuine home buyers.” As of now the median price for properties is in the $NZ475,500 range, and are expected to rise steadily but gradually over the next few months. Meanwhile, mortgage interest rates are hovering around the 5.59 percent to 5.99 percent range for floating rates, while fixed rates are holding at between 5.4 percent and 7.75 percent, depending on the agreed term of the mortgage. AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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housing focus $NZ 489,000
$nz 350,000
A Family Home
For The First-Timers
Pics: www.bayleys.co.nz/361184 2/27 Lagoon Drive, Panmure Pics: www.realestate.co.nz/1559219 390 Rimu South Road, Invercargill Surrounds This four bedroom, two bathroom bungalow would make a great family home, with airy, spacious looking indoor areas and uninterrupted scenic countryside views outside. With almost five acres, this is a great place for the kids to play, and after the weekend there are school buses leaving from the front gate for both the primary and secondary schools.
A good place to start off your first tentative steps onto the New Zealand property market, this three bedroom property is a solidly built modern house with 70 square metres of back garden and a roomy kitchen/ living room space for entertaining. As well as being a great looking house, this property also boasts a location with friendly neighbours and convenient shops nearby.
$nz 1,375,000 Classic City Living Pics:www.nz.open2view. com/Property/235354 Te Aro, Wellington If you’ve got a bit of extra cash to throw around, you could do worse than somewhere like this gorgeous city penthouse.
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Here you’ll find three double bedroomsincluding a master bedroom that features both an en-suite and a walk-in wardrobe. Go into the kitchen and you’ll see it’s got all the mod-cons, with a coffee machine,
steam and microwave combination oven as well as traditional gas cooking. Perhaps best of all however, is the spacious loft that opens out onto a deck that’s just perfect for rooftop barbecues.
$nz 619,000 A Place by the Sea Pics: www.realestate.co.nz/1559015 1/170 Vipond Rd, Stanmore Bay If you’re moving all the way out to New Zealand, its completely possible that the beaches are the reason you’re doing it. if that’s the case, then this my by right up your street. A family home, close to the beach and with a great view of the sea. The property’s advert also makes a point of saying that it’s driveway is “big enough for a boat” so if you’ve always wanted to take up sailing, this could be the place for you. You won’t find the indoors disappointing either, with large master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, and a second living room whether the kids can entertain themselves when they aren’t out on the beach.
How to Look When you start looking for a new home in New Zealand, the first thing you need to do is draw up a realistic budget- work out what you can afford to spend and how much you can reasonably expect from lenders. This means paying close attention to market trends so that you can make realistic estimates over price. This should be a no-brainer, but you’d surprised how many people make this mistake – visit potential properties in person. You can’t rely on online photographs to tell you everything you need to know about a property, and it’s only once you’re in the house that you’ll know if you can imagine spending your life there. At the same time, don’t focus just on the house. “Location, location, location”
is a saying among property experts for a reason. Be sure to check out local amenities, what the rest of the neighbourhood is like, make sure you’re living close to some good schools and have a good local! It’s also important to be open-minded. When you start house hunting you’re obviously going to have an idea of the sort of place you’re looking for, but don’t get married to that idea. You probably won’t find a house that exactly matches the picture in your head, but by being a bit more flexible you might end up finding some pleasant surprises. Finally, once you’ve found a place that measures up, move quickly. You want to get an offer in as soon as you can, as any delays give other buyers a chance to swoop in or allow the vender to change their mind.
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO...
Perth By Chris Farnell
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V
isiting the largest city in Western Australia, you might be expecting to dive right into the middle of the rat race, but when you get to the city of Perth you’ll find your experience is very different. It’s picked up numerous nicknames over the years, “The Friendly City” is one, “The City of Light” is another- named for the time everyone in the city switched their lights on at once as astronaut John Glenn passed overhead in his first orbit of the Earth. But whatever you call it, the general impressions are the same, Perth is far more friendly and easy going than you’d expect a capital city to be. Maybe it’s because Perth is the world’s most remote capital city, or maybe it’s just that with weather this good it’s hard not to feel like your chilling at the beach. For that matter, maybe it’s all the beaches.
Sunning in the Sand Perth is surrounded by flawless parkland and sparkling beaches. In fact, the beaches around here are so numerous the city is able to devote an entire beach just to dogs and their owners. If you’re taking man’s best friend along with you, you could do worse than check out Mosman Beach- known as Leighton Dog Beach to the locals. Cottlesloe is one of the more popular beaches among two-legged visitors, and this is a great place to bring the family. This beach boasts quality snorkelling, surfing and fishing experiences, but it’s also just a great place to build sandcastles and bury Dad up to his neck in sand. For teens and young adults, Scarborough Beach might be more your scene. This beach
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TRAVELLER'S GUIDE is a great spot for surfing and body-boarding, as well as wind and kite surfing. Then, when the sun goes down, it’s the perfect place for a moonlight picnic or a barbecue in one of the large grassed areas and public gazebos.
Shopping
When you’re not catching a wave or working on your tan, you’ll find Perth is an excellent shopping destination. It’s worth trekking up to King Street, where you’ll find some premier retailers. Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton all of shops here while Chanel has been rumoured to be trying to find space there. For something a little more handcrafted, check out the Perth Upmarket, held four times a year at the university’s Winthrop Hall. Here you’ll find artists, designers, gourmets and craftsmen, all tending their wares directly to the customers. If you fancy venturing beyond the centre of Perth a little way, take a look around Mount Lawley, just five minutes drive to the North of the city centre. If you come out to Lawley you’ll find it has a rich, vintage atmosphere, full of colonial style architecture from the 1900s through to the 1950s. This area is brimming with great shopping, cafes and restaurants. Across the city the range of food varies from posher, my stylish fare, to cheap and cheerful cafes and public outdoor barbecues. A particularly good place to hunt out good eating spots is along the Swan River. Here you’ll find the Halo Cafe, which has been a finalist in the Golden Plate awards in the casual dining, licensed tourist restaurant and wine list categories. Halo serves up great fresh local seafood, steaks and poultry in a relaxed, contemporary setting. 50
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Alternatively there’s the Crystal Swan, which actually floats down the Swan River as you eat, giving you 360 degree views of the city and serving up a selection of great food and Western Australian beers and wines.
Things to See There’s far more to this city than just the beaches, shops and restaurants however. With a bit of a look around you can find all sorts of great attractions. If you’re a fan of wildlife you could do worse than checking out Perth Zoo, home of over 1200 animals spread over more than 160 species. Exhibits include animals you might find on an Australian walkabout, or even more exotic beasts from the African Savannah or the Asian Rainforest. Alternatively, you can check out the Aquarium of Western Australia or AQWA (see what they did there?) where you can come face to face with the creatures of the deep without even getting wet. If you want a bit of history, pay a visit to Fremantle Prison. Fremantle is Western Australia’s only World Heritage listed building, with roots going back to the very beginnings of the settlement of Australia. It also lays claim to being the largest structure build by convicts in the country. With 140 years continuous service as a penitentiary, and a death row, solitary cells and gallows, this is a place with thousands of stories to tell- and not all of them have happy endings. For something a bit more cheering, why not take in a movie at Perth’s Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema? Here you can see everything from the latest blockbusters to the eternal classics, and all under a fabulous starry night sky. With plenty to do- and plenty of places to do nothing, you’ll find Perth’s a very friendly city indeed. Moonlight Cinema www.moonlight.com.au Perth Zoo www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au Perth Upmarket www.perthupmarket.com.au Freemantle Prison www.fremantleprison.com.au AUSTRALIAANDNEWZEALAND
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ASK THE traveller Got a burning question you need answering? Why not ask our traveller, these readers did... ency the emerg What is a? li in Austra ndon number Anon. Lo
Q A
52
The contact number for police, fire and ambulance servic es throughout Australia is 000.
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I’ve noticed that return fares from Sydney to the UK in June are UK to almost double that of the e flight sam Sydney for exactly the days. Why is that? Ian. London
Q
A
Essentially it comes down to money and the airlines wanting to make as much of it as they can from each of their geographic markets. On the face of it, it seems bizarre. And it is. It is the same product – a 20,000 mile trip between two points – but it costs nearly twice as much in Australia than it does in the UK. It is down to demand. And it depends on the time of year. In June, plenty of people want to leave Australia. It is the middle of winter in the southern hemisphere and the weather in parts of the UK may well be better than in Sydney. Airlines charge a premium. You have to understand, as well, that demand from the northern hemisphere is currently weak, so tickets here are cheaper – the only way to tempt us on board in any numbers is to lower fares.
Q
What are the driving laws? Can I drive in Aus? Jack, Norwich
A
Q A
Are all credit card
s accepted? Anon. London
s Major international cred it card , ress Exp an includi ng Visa, Americ and Ma ster Card are widely d in Australia at accepted. AT M card s can be use s. tion AT Ms and at most retail loca
Q A
Tourists in Australia can drive on a valid overseas drivers license for the same class of vehicle. Australians drive on the left and the steering wheel is on the right hand side of the car. The maximum speed limit in cities or towns is 50km/h (unless stated otherwise) and on country roads and highways it is 100km/h.
Is tipping customar y? Anon. London
Tipping is not the general custom is in Australia. At any time, tipping you r choice.
Q
Will my hairdryer wo
rk? Sue, London
A
The voltage in Australia is 240/250 volts (AC50 hz). You will need an adaptor to convert your appliances such as a hairdryer and
personal electric shaver.
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On sale 1 24 June 201
Beer Can Regatta Experience the bizarre
The Aus economy Boom, bust or neither?
South Australia Adelaide, Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and much more
PLUS Expat stories Migration news Expert advice Visa costs
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