Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Neubob on April 03, 2008, 07:34:46 AM
-
If you could change something about your country, be it economic or social, what would it be and why? The sorts of problems I'm interested in learning about are those that affect daily life, and could include such things as taxes, immigration policies, troubles in employment and crime.
-
Not much really - any major changes I would've wanted was significantly solved when the liberal govt was basically destroyed during the last federal election...although I think the $30 billion in promised tax cuts would be better suited being used on investment instead of maybe putting more pressure on inflation, and interest rates
Maybe better funding of infrastructure at a state level (NSW), federal funding of public hospitals seems to be on the up so thats a good thing...more affordable housing, cheaper childcare and I'd like better state funding, or a more encompassing federal tax rebate. I think the $150 million the NSW state govt. is wasting on world catholic youth day should be diverted to a better cause like state transport,public hospitals, or police.
Tronsky
-
Thanks tronski--quick followup.
I have heard, albeit from questionable sources, that there are some issues stemming from Arab immigration--namely violent Lebanese youth gangs and such. I know that Australia was considering heightening security provisions for permanent visa applicants from Arabic countries last year.
Is this a real current problem, an real emerging problem, or just blown out of proportion?
-
Australia is Perfection....me and mrs zetanine plan on retiring there.
-
Theres a concentrated lebanese population in the south west of Sydney which the tabloid media loves to bring up every now and then - and yes there are Lebanese crime gangs operating in these areas (just like there are chinese...vietnamese...europe an based crime gangs), but these are 99% 2nd generation and australian born. Its only as big of a problem that all crime eventually becomes.
Australian immigration is a fairly robust thing at the best of times, and its historically always been basically slated towards western countries before arabic and african immigration, which doesn't mean its unfair - but the requirements to immigrate seems easier to obtain if you come from a richer country.
But that doesn't mean we don't take plenty of refugees - but that process is a fairly rigourous one which main intent is the vetting of real refugees from "economic" refugees. Immigrants who's status is deemed illegal are quickly deported - but there have been cases where determining someones status has been a difficult thing and so can result in a lengthly stay in mandatory detention.
Tronsky
-
Hey Tronski. Me and the missus are looking at working in Australia in 2009. :aok
She's a staff nurse and I'm an accountant so we shouldn't have too much problem with visas etc. Looking at somewhere near Byron Bay (a mate just spent a year near there and has some contacts).
-
Hey Tronski. Me and the missus are looking at working in Australia in 2009. :aok
She's a staff nurse and I'm an accountant so we shouldn't have too much problem with visas etc. Looking at somewhere near Byron Bay (a mate just spent a year near there and has some contacts).
If you are over 40.........they won't take you. They will take your wife because of her line of work. Once over 40 there are three ways to immigrate there....teach in the arts, medical jobs, come with 2M in liquid assets. New Zealand is a little easier.
-
If you are over 40.........they won't take you. They will take your wife because of her line of work. Once over 40 there are three ways to immigrate there....teach in the arts, medical jobs, come with 2M in liquid assets. New Zealand is a little easier.
Something along those lines would certainly put a kink in immigration in the US wouldn't it.
-
Nah, we'd have just as much or more illegal immigration to compensate.
-
Theres a concentrated Lebanese population in the south west of Sydney which the tabloid media loves to bring up every now and then - and yes there are Lebanese crime gangs operating in these areas (just like there are chinese...vietnamese...europe an based crime gangs), but these are 99% 2nd generation and Australian born. Its only as big of a problem that all crime eventually becomes.
Tronsky
It's not is not a media construction, Lebanese youths cause an inordinate amount of trouble. It is a societal trend for those of 'ethnic' or middle eastern decent to blindly embrace their 'heritage' (despite the fact that they have never been to Lebanon or whatever they call 'home') and form tight-knit social groups according to this 'common' heritage. These groups of guys and their sluts proceed to 'crash' parties and start fights simply because they consider themselves 'different'. You are right though, Tronski, these 'ethnic' youths are mostly one hundred percent Australian born and bred.
As blunt assessment may be, it is a true representation of youth behaviour in Australia. This is also far from anecdotal evidence, I studied this topic at university and the same general trend was observed in an official study (I will reference later if entirely necessary).
Australian-born youths have no specific, intrinsic identity and because of this they seek to embrace any heritage they can (regardless of how removed they are from said heritage). I would have this country work toward a more focused model for Australian youths to work toward rather than the entirely ambiguous 'Aussie' attitude that permeates so many form soft media yet means nothing.
I'd get also rid of Kevin Rudd. He's out to look like the kind and caring man for the down-trodden and marginalised. He is sadly lacking in testicular fortitude.... something that (whether you loved or hated him) John Howard certainly had.
'Sorry Day' was a travesty and an insult to every white Australian who had nothing to do with the 'stolen generation'. To be honest, I was disgusted our new PM took such a soft line on this issue. To be blunt, Aboriginals ask for much and give so little yet when their communities (outside of white Australian settlements) run into trouble due to substance abuse, crime and child abuse they're the first to run to the government for help. I'm not sure if you all read the recent article that SD67 posted about Aboriginal communities asking the government to take their children and educate them... but that is a perfect indication of what really takes place. Far too many Aboriginals seek to take advantage of our government regardless of the fact that they are their own worst enemy.
I'd also like to see the Australian government stick with Howard's 'tough on immigration' stance.... This will most certainly not happen now that Kevin Rudd and his merry band of hippies like Peter Garret have taken over, though.... which is sad.
Victorian police have had to set up a special task force to deal with African gangs who rob, rape and steal... I fear that this soft attitude of the new government will only exacerbate this issue.
Australia is in mortal danger of falling into an inescapable cycle of political correctness and putting all others before ourselves. This is very poor way to run a country and one that will not succeed.
Looking past the negative things I have brought up, this country does provide an excellent quality of life. Our food is of excellent quality, as is out water (increasingly scarce as it may be) and we have a largely fair system of trade.
Anyone who was seeking to live here and not get involved in the areas largely affected by immigration its negative effects (such as the inland and country areas) would do well to do so, we do have a quality infrastructure.
Whilst Australia is increasingly becoming a nation disabled by a piss-weak government and its eternal insistence on political correctness it is currently a comfortable place to live and work.
-
Get rid of the australians and australia would be perfect :D (p.s. we're slowly working on that)
-
If you are over 40.........they won't take you. They will take your wife because of her line of work. Once over 40 there are three ways to immigrate there....teach in the arts, medical jobs, come with 2M in liquid assets. New Zealand is a little easier.
I'm 29 and my fiancee is 28 (we marry in July). Both degree educated, which I think helps as well. Fiancee also has an uncle living in Brisbane, although that probably doesn't score on the points system.
Vulcan - which is better Australia or New Zealand? I've been told the climate in NZ will better suit my damp British genes, but watching Flight of the Conchords kind of undersells the place. :D
-
How about water concerns? Especially for farming areas who are losing it to heavily populated areas.
Or is recycling piss going to be the wave of the future?
-
How about water concerns? Especially for farming areas who are losing it to heavily populated areas.
Or is recycling piss going to be the wave of the future?
get your MrCoffee coffee makers ready. <reference to Water World>
-
Hey Tronski. Me and the missus are looking at working in Australia in 2009. :aok
She's a staff nurse and I'm an accountant so we shouldn't have too much problem with visas etc. Looking at somewhere near Byron Bay (a mate just spent a year near there and has some contacts).
We live and work in Ballina. (close to Byron, Byron is expensive as hell and full of avacados anyway). Mrs Dowding shouldn't have any difficulty at all in finding work in the Northern rivers area health service, Lismore base hospital is always looking for competent nursing staff.
There are several financial centres here that may be more than willing to offer a position for you in the area as well, what area do you specialise in?
-
Dowding your missus will get in before you - areas like Byron are dying for nurses...but I'm sure we'd even let an accountant in :D
As for sorry day - I was completely in favour of Kev's apology, I thought it was a just and decent thing to do, and seriously I doubt that immigration will change that much - although the death of the so called "pacific solution" was a good thing.
As for the fear of politcal correctness...well I leave that to the shock jocks, Alan Jones's, and Anna Corens of the world to whip up...
Tronsky
-
Accountants are a dime-a-dozen globally. Aussies will tell you to stay home. (They did my English friend in 2002)Tell your fiancee' "Enjoy Australia". ;)
-
Get rid of the australians and australia would be perfect :D (p.s. we're slowly working on that)
Yeah, but careful of that birthday cake in NZ.... :O Not exactly freedom paradise...
Originally Posted by Reuters Oddly Enough
No happy returns as school bans birthday cake
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Children in a New Zealand school have been banned from bringing cakes to share on their birthdays, due to new government healthy eating guidelines.
Pupils at Oteha Valley primary school north of Auckland have been told they are allowed to celebrate their birthdays, but the cake must stay at home, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
The Ministry of Education has been on a fat-busting crusade, introducing sweeping guidelines against unhealthy food in New Zealand schools.
Oteha Valley has a large number of pupils born in September and October, and there can be up to four cakes a week in some classes, principal Megan Bowden told the Herald.
It had gotten to the point where parents thought they were required to provide a cake for their child's birthday.
The school has advised parents in a newsletter to stop sending cakes to school from the next term.
A Ministry of Education spokesman told the Herald the government guidelines only applied to food sold on the premises, and schools did not need to monitor food brought in from outside.
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate; Editing by Valerie Lee)
-
SD67/Tronski - I work in industry rather than in practice (although I am qualified through a chartered institute), and have mainly manufacturing experience (although a good deal of commercial cross-over because of the nature of the business I'm in). My friend was living near Byron while his fiancee (a doctor) was over there - it was a really nice place, but much cheaper than Byron (and better he said). I'll have to find out exactly where. He was renting a beach front town-house with swimming pool access for £700 a month - which sounded very reasonable to me.
I've just ran our details through an agency website, looking to move on a Skilled Visa application - managed to rack up 145 points, which means I pass the first hurdle set at 100 points I thnk. Although I know someone who is applying at the moment, and the formal application is tough I believe.
When I think about, the timing of a move to Oz couldn't be better. We could do it for a year and see if we liked it. If we didn't, it would have been a great experience. If we did, then we would be ready to start a family and settle anyway.
Ripsnort - it would seem Accountancy is on both the Nominated Occupations list and the Occupations in Demand listing for Australian immigration. With yourself in mind, I looked out for BBS post monkeys on there for you, but it seems Australia has filled up its quota for this year. :P
-
That sounds like it could have been Lennox Head. It fits the description being halfway between Ballina and Byron and on the coast though that area is growing pretty quickly now, I wouldn't count on rents being that price for much longer.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lennox+Head+Australia&ie=UTF8&ll=-28.784511,153.491364&spn=0.33039,0.704498&z=11