Slightly OT: Questions on Australia

[JHardman]

To all that live down under or have solid information...

I am considering a move to AU, Sydney or maybe Melbourne. I have been doing some reading and surfing etc, and frankly am not that far into the process of making up my mind yet, but I had a few questions for those that live down under, not all related to clownfishes.

1) I know the AU has some very strict wildlife import/export rules, but how are those applied to CB animals, especially clownfish? I would think it would be MUCH easier to export CB fish than WC fish...

2) What are the tax rates like? In the US they are based on income and broken into percentage groups. How does it work in general there?

3) Housing market. From what little research I have done, it seems that much of the metro area's have primarily appartments for sale and not classic free standing houses. What's the deal with that, just out of room to build?

4) Assuming #3 is lame searching and understanding of the market, what would a house in the outskirts of Sydney or Melbourne on a large (1 acre+) lot with 2000+ square feet of house with say 3-4 bedrooms, 2-3 bath and 2 car garage, cost?

 

[dantodd]

check with mrblue on rareclownfish.com on question #1. He's in AU and raising clowns for export as we seak. (Man I hope those things breed for him!)

I believe that I read after Joe H. won the main event last year that AU doesn't tax "gaming" winnings.

As for housing I don't know. I have a friend who sold 5000+ square foot house for 5.4M AU. But he had a small lot. But the lot was ON Sydney Harbor. I know it isn't really what you are looking for but it's the only data point I have on housing.

 

[edr42]

There are heaps of houses for sale in and around Sydney, it's just a question of how much you are prepared to part with, and where you are willing to live.
Aus does have very strict wildlife import/export laws, but as long as you have the relevant permits, exportation of captive bred clowns should be a lot easier than wild caught fish.
With the spec house you have up in your post, you could be looking at around $1.5M AU for a nice place in Sydney.
Keeping and breeding tropical marine species becomes a much less expensive proposition if you move up to a place somewhere near a GBR port city, like Cairns or Townsville. Being so close to the reef, broodstock are abundant, the climate is perfect, housing is cheap, and everything becomes easier.
I also know for a fact that clownfish breeders are in short supply to the local market up here, so that is an opportunity to expand the buisness.
Good Luck!

 

[JHardman]

Thanks for the reply edr42.

While breeding clownfish is something I would consider more as hobby, with little profit motive, as my primary income is from poker. I play more and more online but my bread and butter still comes from live play, and unless you are hidding a big card room up near the GBR, I would have to rule that out.

I would be looking to lay out somewhere in the area of $600AU to $2M AU for a house, just depends on what I find. I would prefer to see the spec house I mention in the OP in the $600AU range. Doesn't sound like I am going to find it though. Do you know of any good online sites for house hunting? I found one, but it was mostly apartments in the high rises along the Sydney harbor area, while nice not my cup of tea.

 

[edr42]

Try www.domain.com.au
www.realestate.com.au

 

[dantodd]

Jhardman.. your pm box is full

 

[JHardman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7830358#post7830358 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
Jhardman.. your pm box is full

Not any more...

 

[Sk8r]

Getting a visa can be interesting...if it looks as if you're going to settle there. I had to do a speaking arrangement there, and the Aussie consulate had to ask me all sorts of questions about my intentions, my pay [it was gratis, for transportation only] and if I promised to leave the country. We had a friendly laugh: I asked him if the US and Australia had declared war on each other, and I failed to know, and he said no, it was just that the government was very protective of Australian jobs.

 

[nanomilk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7832192#post7832192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r it was just that the government was very protective of Australian jobs.

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFT! :lol:

 

[JHardman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7832192#post7832192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Getting a visa can be interesting...if it looks as if you're going to settle there. I had to do a speaking arrangement there, and the Aussie consulate had to ask me all sorts of questions about my intentions, my pay [it was gratis, for transportation only] and if I promised to leave the country. We had a friendly laugh: I asked him if the US and Australia had declared war on each other, and I failed to know, and he said no, it was just that the government was very protective of Australian jobs.

Not a problem, with my IT skills I rate a 60 out of 60 on the permanent resident visa requirements. Already researched that end of it, and it is cake for me.

 

[lux_06]

lol... they are desperate for skilled persons over here to help fill the gap we have cos so many of our graduates head off overseas.

i live in Adelaide so not much knowledge on Syd, melb but as far as real estate goes, price increases have slowed right down and there is plenty of real estate available in the two towns you have mentioned as everyone is heading to perth and to queensland...

go to google.com.au and just search real estate companys, ljhooker.com.au comes to mind, and the ones edr32 mentioned.

income tax is quite high, it all depends on what you make but if you make more then around 60gs a year i think its around 45%

petrol is high too, $1.35 a litre.

Quarenteen laws are strict but you can bring anything in it just takes time, we moved from the uk in 1990 and were told we could not take our macaws, cockatoos (birds) with us, when we got here we found out we could they would have just had to stay off shore for 6 months while they were made sure to have no disease. good luck and hope to see ya round!!!!

 

[OrionN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7837574#post7837574 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lux_06
.......

income tax is quite high, it all depends on what you make but if you make more then around 60gs a year i think its around 45%

.......

Want to jump in with a question.
60K is about 45K US dollars, 18K tax and 27K take home. This isn't much for a family of 4 in the US in one of the larger cities. How far does it go down there? I guess I want to know what the cost of living there is like.
The tax is stiff. Even the top tax bracket here in the US is not any where near 45%. 45K is not anywhere near the top bracket. What is the tax rate for about 250K Au/year?

 

[Red Rose Ramble]

DO MORE RESEARCH...!

 

[lux_06]

ok sorry was too general with my first comments check out this table from our gov's website, its the 42% over 65g that i was refering too i was just too vague.

Tax rates 2005-06
Taxable income
Tax on this income

$0 â€"œ $6,000
Nil

$6,001 â€"œ $21,600
15c for each $1 over $6,000

$21,601 â€"œ $63,000
$2,340 plus 30c for each $1 over $21,600

$63,001 â€"œ $95,000
$14,760 plus 42c for each $1 over $63,000

Over $95,000
$28,200 plus 47c for each $1 over $95,000

 

[lux_06]

next years rates:
Tax rates 2006-07
Taxable income
Tax on this income

$0 â€"œ $6,000
Nil

$6,001 â€"œ $25,000
15c for each $1 over $6,000

$25,001 â€"œ $75,000
$2,850 plus 30c for each $1 over $25,000

$75,001 â€"œ $150,000
$17,850 plus 40c for each $1 over $75,000

Over $150,000
$47,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $150,000

 

[Angel*Fish]

lux_06
Is that a flat rate or are there deductions?

 

[JHardman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7838178#post7838178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Angel*Fish
lux_06
Is that a flat rate or are there deductions?

I am pretty sure that is on net income.

I am not too worried as long as they do not start taxing gambaling income.

 

[Helio Fungii]

I live in south australia, it gets overlooked alot of the time. Houses blocks are around 200,000 (empty) and the average house is 450,000. The reefs are AMAZING! and they're all really close There's leafy and weedy sea dragons in the metropolitan beaches. I collect sea squirts, hot pink tube anemones, ornate cowfish and all sorts of stuff from there.

 

[Helio Fungii]

I surf too waves are awesome and they're not very busy.

 

[Angel*Fish]

[welcome]
Helio Fungii, what town do you live in?