Latest Australian Information from Britzinoz and ABCDiamond

Marks and Spencer to open in Australia

Marks & Spencer has announced that the Company has selected The Just Jeans Group as its franchise partner for Australia and that it plans to open the first M&S store late in 2010.

"Initially, we expect to have stores of about 1,000 - 1,500 sq metres selling our exclusive St Michael range of ladies' and men's clothing, lingerie, accessories and shoes, toiletries and cosmetics"

Source:

• www.prnewswire.co.uk
  



NSW State Budget 2009

Tuesday 16th June 2009

• A 50 per cent cut to stamp duty for newly-constructed dwellings up to $600,000 purchased in New South Wales from 1 July to 31 December 2009. This is a saving of up to $11,245 per dwelling, including for investors. It does not apply to first home buyers because first home buyers already pay no stamp duty on purchases up to $500,000 and a reduced rate between $500,000 and $600,000.
  
• To help young families, the $3,000 NSW Government first home buyers supplement for newly-constructed homes has been extended until the end of June 2010.
  



Queensland State Budget 2009

Tuesday 16th June 2009

• The Fuel subsidy of 8.3 cents per litre will end on June 30th 2009.
  
• Stamp duty concession for First Home buyers of vacant land to increase from $150,000 to $250,000.
  



Commonwealth Bank Increases Variable Home Loan rate

12th June 2009

The Commonwealth Bank today increased its Standard variable home loan rate from 5.64% to to 5.74%.

The bank also confirmed that some home loans with fixed interest rates will also rise.

Some CBA 15th June 2009 Fixed rates compared to the April 2009 rate

5 Year Fixed is now 7.34%, it was 6.84% at April 2009 and 6.39% in March 2009
10 Year Fixed is now 8.09%, it was 7.39% at April 2009
15 Year Fixed is now 8.19%, it was 7.39% at April 2009

• More at: Mortgages in Australia...
  



Unemployment Rates May 2009

11th June 2009

The Australian unemployment rate moved in May from 5.5% to 5.7%

(Trend Estimates)

• Employment decreased from 10,790,600 to 10,788,100
  
• Unemployment increased from 630,800 to 654,900
  
• Unemployment Rate increased from 5.5% to 5.7% (Seasonally adjusted increased from 5.4% to 5.7%)
  
• Participation Rate remained steady at 65.5%
  
The above Trend Estimate rates from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6202.0?OpenDocument

• More at: Unemployment Statistics...
  



The $8,000 Federal Solar System rebate

9th June 2009

NOTE: This scheme is now ending early than originally stated, on 9th June 2009.
This was due to to end on June 30th 2009, but it appears that funding has now run out,
The last applications will be those received on 9th June 2009.


More information....




Calling all British Nationals living abroad!!

Help shape the future of consular services for British Nationals.

Are you a British national living abroad, who is interested in helping shape future services offered to you by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)? If so, Virtual Surveys, a UK-based market research agency, would like to hear from you.

Virtual Surveys is working on behalf of the FCO, and is looking speak to a range British nationals about their experiences of living and/or working abroad, as well as what services they would like the FCO to provide in the future.

What’s in it for me?
By contributing your thoughts, not only will you influence how the FCO develops the services it offers to people like you, but if you are eligible to participate in the forum, you could receive up to £50 of Amazon vouchers. You'll also get to discuss your experiences of living overseas with other British nationals from around the world.



More information....




Australian Crime Statistics 2008

4th June 2009

A selection of crime rates for offence categories during 2008 are:

Murder, * 1.2 victims per 100,000 persons, (1.2 in 2007)
Attempted murder, * 1.1 victims per 100,000 persons, (1.2 in 2007)
Kidnapping and abduction, * 3.7 victims per 100,000 persons, (3.5 in 2007)
Robbery, * 77.2 victims per 100,000 persons,(85.6 in 2007)
Blackmail and extortion, * 2.0 victims per 100,000 persons, (2.0 in 2007)
Motor vehicle theft * 319 victims per 100,000 persons, (336 in 2007)
Unlawful entry with intent * 1,131 victims per 100,000 persons in 2008 (1,182 in 2007)


Source:

• 4510.0 - Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2008
  

  More Australian Crime related information....




Australia is Officially not in Recession

3rd June 2009

Today's results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, show the March 2009 quarter results for GDP as follows:

• In seasonally adjusted terms, GDP increased by 0.4% in the March quarter
  

Source:

• 5206.0 - Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product, Mar 2009
  



Queensland and NSW to discontinue the Petrol Subsidies

Both Qld and NSW will be discontinuing their Petrol Subsidy schemes from July 1st 2009

This could mean that petrol will rise by about 8 cents, which is the subsidy in QLD and the top part of Northern NSW.

More information.... (see bottom of linked page)




Australian Interest Rate Movements

2nd June 2009

No change, from the Reserve Bank on Interest rate today, for the month of June 2009

• More at: Mortgages in Australia...
  



seasonally adjusted Retail Turnover April 2009

The following states had an increase in retail turnover in April 2009:
+ 1.3% New South Wales
+ 0.9% Australian Capital Territory
+ 0.8% Queensland
+ 0.5% Tasmania

Victoria had no change

The following states had a Decrease in retail turnover
- 0.1% South Australia
- 2.4% Western Australia
- 4.6% Northern Territory


• more on.... The Australian Economy

Australian Average Wages February 2009

Figures released on 21st May 2009 show the February 2009 average wages as follows:

Trend Estimates (before the addition of the 9% Super)

• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings $1,183.10 pw (5.9% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Full-time adult total earnings $1,230.50 pw ($63,986 pa) (5.3% rise in last 12 months)
  
• Male Full Time Total Earnings $1,328.10 pw (69,061 pa)
  
• Female Full Time Total Earnings $1,063.80 pw ($55,317 pa)
  
Full-time adult total earnings rose by 5.7% for males and 5.1% for females, in the twelve months to February 2009

Where is my Tax Stimulus Payment ?

During April and May 2009 the ATO has been sending out the $900 tax stimulus payments, but some people haven't yet received anything.

If you are one of these and are wondering why, answer the following...

• Are you an Australian resident for tax purposes ?
  
• Have you received your 2007-08 Tax Assessement yet ?
  
• Was your Taxable Income, as stated on that 2007-08 Tax Assessement under $100,000 ?
  
• Was your Total Tax, as stated on that 2007-08 Tax Assessement more than zero, look on the line that says "Net Amount Payable" ?
  

If you have answered YES to every question, then you would appear to be due for the payment, and you should confidently call the ATO.

If any answer is NO, then you may not be eligible

• More information on Tax Stimulus Payments....

Australian Federal Budget 2009

Tuesday 12th May 2009

2009 Budget Family Tax Benefit Changes:

No Changes to Family Tax Benefit for 3 years
2009 Budget Aged Pension Changes:

Aged pension to be increased by $32.49 a week for singles and $10.14 for couples.
2009 Budget First Home Buyer Grant Changes:.

First home owners grant boost to be extended for another six months, but to be reduced after 3 months.
2009 Budget Other Changes:

Private health insurance rebate to be means tested for singles earning over $75,000 and couples earning over $150,000

Maternity leave of 18 weeks at Minimum wage to be taxable.




More Information at: 2009 Australian Budget...

Property Price Movements Jan to March 2009

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics - Quarterly Established house price index for the quarter ended March 2009

The median value of Established houses has changed as follows:

-2.2% Median Value of all National Capital Cities

-3.6% Perth
-2.9% Sydney
-2.3% Melbourne
-1.1% Brisbane
-0.8% Adelaide
+0.1% Hobart
+0.5% Canberra
+2.2% Darwin

• More information....

Mercer’s 2009 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey

The Mercer Quality of Living Survey covers 215 cities and cities are compared to New York as the base city, with an index score of 100.

Australian and New Zealand cities continue to dominate worldwide quality of living standards

All Australian and New Zealand cities ranked higher than New York (100 points).

• Sydney ranked 10th place, scoring 106.3 points;
  
• Melbourne ranked 18th (scoring 104.8 points);
  
• Perth ranked 21st place (scoring 104.3);
  
• Adelaide ranked 30th (scoring 103 points);
  
• Brisbane ranked 34th (scoring 102.4 points);
  
• London ranked 38th (scoring 101.6 points)
  

2008 and 2009 Survey Information at: Quality of Living Survey's ...

The Global Economy according to the IMF

April 23, 2009

In its monthly forecast, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today predicted the global economy would shrink by 1.3% in 2009.

The advanced economies are set to shrink by 3.8%
Some individual countries are estimated to have negative growth of the following figures:

• 6.2% Japan
  
• 6.0% Russia
  
• 5.6% Germany
  
• 4.4% Italy
  
• 4.1% Britain
  
• 1.4% Australia
  
Developing countries would grow at an average rate of 1.6% for the year.
Some of these countries will only grow at the following rates..

• 6.5% China
  
• 4.5% India
  

20th Aril 2009 - Banks raise Interest Rates

CBA are raising their 7 year Fixed Interest rates 7.24%.

Westpac have already announced Fixed Interest rate rises

• More at: Mortgages...
  

Unemployment Rates March 2009

The Australian unemployment rate rose in March from 4.9% to 5.4%

(Trend Estimates)

• Employment decreased to 10,792,300
  
• Unemployment increased to 612,800
  
• Unemployment Rate increased to 5.4% (Seasonally adjusted = 5.7%)
  
• Participation Rate increased to 65.5%
  
The above Trend Estimate rates from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6202.0?OpenDocument

7th April 2009 - RBA cuts Interest rates by 0.25%

The RBA has again cut interest rates by another 0.25% on the 7th April 2009.

This brings the official Interest rate down to 3%

BUT... Mortgage Interest rates may NOT be reduced this time

More at: Mortgages...

Retail Trade Figures for February 2009 in Australia

The seasonally adjusted estimates of Retail Trade in Australia, has changed each month by:


Australia

• - 0.2% February 2009
  
• + 0.2% January 2009
  
• + 3.8% December 2008
  
• + 0.4% November 2008
  



State by State for the month of February 2009

• NSW - 2.4% (+1.9% Jan 09)
  
• ACT - 0.5% (+1.5% Jan 09)
  
• WA - 2.7% (+1.4% Jan 09)
  
• SA - 2.4% (+0.1% Jan 09)
  
• QLD - 2.2% (0.0% QLD Jan 09)
  
• VIC - 1.3% (-1.8% Jan 09)
  
• TAS + 1.3% (-2.9% Jan 09)
  



Breakdown by Industry

• - 1.3% Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services
  
• - 0.4% Food retailing
  
• - 2.7% Clothing and soft good retailing
  
• - 0.3% Other retailing
  
• - 3.8% Household good retailing
  
• - 9.8% Department stores
  
Source:

Migration numbers to be cut - March 2009

• More information....

Free phone calls to the UK ? and Free Phone calls all over Australia ?
and Free Phone calls to Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, and USA ?
and more...

Need a Visa for Australia ?

Not sure which visa to apply for ?

The Australian Government immigration website now has the FIND A VISA WIZARD at:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/

Answer the questions and the wizard will point you in the right direction...

More Visa Information on our site at: Australian Visa's

Note:


Immigrant = for most part an immigrant will commit themselves to becoming a part of their country of residence.


Expat = usually only temporarily placed in the host country & most of the time plan on returning to their home country.