The actor has since gone public in order to present his side to the story claiming to not being able to pay even %10 of the sum the Tax Office is after.

Share on Facebook

There are many reasons for this but the biggest is probably that the price of an automobile in the country is often not what was originally negotiated. This is because there is a tax on the purchase price of the car that you are not informed about until after the purchase.

In addition, people are often just not familiar enough with the process so we will try to clarify some of the confusion.

Just as all over the world, cars can be bought both new and used in Australia. It is highly advisable to price around the various dealers and there are many organizations that can assist. For example, the Australian RAC will inspect any car you are interested in and the Motor Dealers Compensation Fund will protect you in any purchase of a used car as long as it’s from a licensed dealer.

Warranties will vary depending on the age/mileage/etc. of the car but three month / 5,000 km warranties for newer cars without tons of wear and tear on them are standard.

There are also several state government taxes that are to be paid when buying a car in Australia. These include: Registration Transfer Fee, Stamp Duty (total varies depending on price and location of car), Motor Vehicle Tax (annual fee), and Compulsory Third Party Insurance (required insurance in case you injure someone else).

A car that costs more than $57,009 and is purchased from a dealer will also require you to pay a Luxury Car Tax.

As is often the case when immigrating to a new country buying a car is commonly one of the biggest challenges for people moving to Australia. Reading through this list of things to keep in mind and doing your homework before making your purchase should ease the process and allow you to keep your thoughts focused on the other issues of your big move.

Share on Facebook

In a shift from the old “get married and when we have children let’s move to the suburbs” approach, people in Australia are trending towards staying in the city with slightly larger apartments and keeping with this arrangement long term. The younger generation apparently has too much of an affinity for city life and are willing to make the financial sacrifices necessary to adjust to the more expensive lifestyle.

Instead of just assuming that the luxuries of suburban life (i.e. bigger homes, larger properties with backyards, relative calm, etc.) are unattainable inside of the big cities, today people are making minor modifications to the types of apartments they seek to maximize city life without sacrificing the “stable” lives they lived growing up in the suburbs.

This news will affect immigrants moving to Australia in a number of ways. For one, it makes it crucial for potential immigrants to be even more versed in Australia’s real estate market. Knowing the trends and being able to anticipate where the market will head with the advent of these trends can bring great benefits. For example, someone moving to Australia with some money put away may now consider buying an apartment in the city as opposed to a house in the suburbs due to demand going up which should keep the value going up.

In addition, if a potential immigrant who is moving to Australia with their family would like to join the trend and settle into an apartment in the city you can gather the information for what type of unit will be able to fill your needs. Some things that families look for when searching for long term apartment solutions in the city include: ground floor apartments to make for easier entry and exit with children, access to laundry services which are not usually common in some apartment buildings, central/walking distance location to desired areas and, if possible, a property that at least has access to some sort of backyard space.

Deciding where to settle when moving to Australia is sometimes as big a challenge as dealing with the actual decision of immigration. Do ample research early on in the process and determine whether city living or suburban life is for you. Once you’ve made that decision you can be ready to move forward and tackle the rest.

Share on Facebook

Ms. Gillard made a bold statement explaining that she is behind Australia becoming a republic. However, she made it clear that she only favors the changeover once Queen Elizabeth is no longer in power. Said Ms. Gillard:

“I am obviously a republican. I believe that this nation should be a republic. I also believe that this nation has got a deep affection for Queen Elizabeth. What I would like to see as the prime minister is that we work our way through to an agreement on a republic. But I think the appropriate time for this nation to be a republic will be when we see the monarch change.”

She qualified her statement by saying that she wishes Queen Elizabeth only health and happiness.

In contrast, Mr. Abbott stated that he does not see Australia moving to a republic anytime soon. Said Mr. Abbott:

“While there may very well be further episodes of republicanism in this country, I am far from certain that, at least in our lifetimes, there’s likely to be any significant change.”

While the focus of the result of this debate has been (rightfully) on the current citizens of Australia it is becoming increasingly clear that those considering moving to Australia need to be factored in. The dictionary defines republic as “a  state  in  which  the  supreme  power  rests  in  the  body  of  citizens  entitled  to  vote  and  is  exercised  by  representatives  chosen  directly  or  indirectly  by  them.” The stakes are obviously high. Potential immigrants coming in from other countries are going to be weighing the impact of Australia’s (possibly) new model of government with especially intense scrutiny. Do they want a republic? Do they want things to stay the same? Those moving to Australia are crucial members of the country’s future and the candidates for Prime Minister would do well to heavily consider their wants and desires of future political regimes.

Share on Facebook

Although, an object a mere 10 centimeters wide would most probably burn up on reentry and therefore is only a threat to astronauts and satellites. But larger objects that do not burn up once entering the atmosphere will never surprise anyone, thanks to the advanced motion tracking system that can predict where the object will fall.

Currently there are about 200,000 pieces of garbage, all smaller than one centimeter, circling the globe in orbit. Sadly, there are over 500,000 larger pieces of junk also floating around. From left over rocket boosters to shattered pieces of metal from blown up Chinese satellites, the system will track them all.

Share on Facebook

“16 Interesting Statistics About Moving To Australia”  is a list I discovered posted by Scott King at http://www.traveleverywhere.net/ (a fantastic travel tips and information site by the way) with some real eye opening nuggets. Among the moving to Australia statistical highlights for the 2008-2009 financial year:

#1) 224,619 people permanently moved to Australia. This was a 9.1% rise over the previous 12 month period, showing an almost continuous year on year rise.

#4) 182 people entered Australia under the title of having a ‘Distinguished Talent’. According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, this is for “people who are internationally recognized for exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, the arts, sport or research or academia.”

#6) In respect of age, more women aged between 25 and 34 moved to Australia than any other age or sex, with 36,947.

#11) The United Kingdom has appeared in the top 2 countries in which immigrants arrive from since 1978.

Make sure to click through to the page to see the whole list. However, one of the most shocking things to me is how many of these moving to Australia statistics and information pages continue to propagate the web. A key reason for this can also be seen on the page in their introduction. As they state:

“Seen by many as one of the most popular places on earth, several of Australia’s cities often rank on annual surveys of the best places to live in the world. With hundreds of thousands of people deciding to move to Australia (whether permanently or temporarily) each and every year, the country is expected to have a population of 36 million by 2050, according to The Australian newspaper.”

Moving to Australia continues to increase in popularity and, as the list mentions, shows no sign of slowing down anytime in the coming decades. The statistics found online back this up and we will keep pointing you towards the most interesting ones as they become available.

In addition, please always remember to contact us at www.Shipping2Australia.com round the clock for any questions you may have about shipping or moving to Australia.

Share on Facebook

For the most part, the answer to that question is resoundingly positive and should not be a detriment for those pondering moving. The business economy is thriving and immigrant workers are more than welcome.

Of course, one of the crucial factors is regarding which area of Australia you plan on conducting your job search. We provide a very handy chart of what you can expect in terms of salary depending on your geographical location at the jobs in Australia section of our website and we also have a careers and employments in Australia page that lists some fantastic resources for your search. In addition, skillmatching.com.au has a really terrific “Top 10 Tips for Job Seekers in Australia” list for people who want to work and live in Australia (also includes New Zealand).

As is often the case, finding job opportunities in Australia becomes a full time job unto itself. It is extremely important to utilize the resources listed in this post and to take advantage of the vast amount of help available on the Internet (for example, try typing “job opportunities in Australia” into Google and see what they give you) when conducting your search. Overall, the employment opportunities are there to be had in Australia and, with a little effort, the results have been overwhelmingly positive for immigrants searching for work.

Good luck in conducting your search of good job opportunities in Australia and please don’t forget to contact us at www.Shipping2Australia.com round the clock with any questions or concerns you may have.

Share on Facebook

1) Shipping to Australia Door to Door – This is the most recommended shipping to Australia option. It is where the shipping company will arrive at your door, pack up your belongings and do the actual removal. They will then unload your shipment and unpack it once you get to Australia. The thing to keep in mind here is that the company will not include the destination port fees in their price quote due to the unpredictable nature of the Australian Port Authorities. We strongly recommend obtaining a printed list of port fees prior to shipping.

2) Shipping to Australia Door to Port – This is the recommended route for commercial companies of substantial size. The price for this method will be lower but you will still need to pay for other fees and services such as Australian port fees and the cost of transporting your stuff to your door.

3) Shipping to Australia Port to Port – This is also a method mainly practiced by large companies that make regular shipments and have their own customs agents on staff.

4) Shipping to Australia Port to Door – This is generally the preferred method for commercial importers who receive their goods from manufacturers overseas, have already packed all their belongings and would like to just drop them by the warehouse of the company they will use for shipping (thereby eliminating the cost of having to have the goods picked up).

5) Shipping to Australia by Sea – This is the route taken by the vast majority of commercial businesses as well as private individuals and families. While the overall length of the project will take longer than shipping by air, the pros usually far outweigh the cons. Such advantages include, but are not limited to, having no limit on the size of shipment (as shipping ports are designed to handle deliveries of any size) while also giving you the choice of shipping your belongings in a dedicated full container or using part of a shared container (meaning you only pay for the space you use).

6) Shipping to Australia by Air – This is the much more expensive option. However, the process is much faster than shipping by sea. This option is generally recommended when shipping particularly valuable goods to Australia as the quick turn around time will make for a smaller chance of the goods being lost, stolen, or damaged. 

This concludes our series on Shipping to Australia Tips and Information. While it is impossible to answer every question on the topic, by going through the posts we hope to have set you on the right path while answering questions on some of the most common problems experienced by potential shippers. For more information on the subject please visit our site at www.Shipping2Australia.com which dedicates itself to answering all questions relating to shipping and moving to Australia and will also find you the best price for your shipment from the most reliable companies.

Please also continue to read this blog which will continue to provide news, tips, resources, advice and be the ultimate resource for anybody moving to Australia.

We look forward to further tackling the world of Australian immigration and ask that the feedback keep coming. 

Get your FREE quote for Shipping to Australia now and be ready for our next moving to Australia blog post coming soon.

All posts in Shipping to Australia Tips and Information series:

Part 1: Shipping to Australia Tips and Information

Part 2: Cheap Shipping to Australia

Part 3: Shipping Companies to Australia

Part 4: Freight Shipping to Australia

Part 5: Container Shipping to Australia

Part 6: Shipping Prices to Australia

Part 7: Shipping Cars to Australia

Part 8: Shipping to Australia Options

Share on Facebook

While there is lots of information out there on line for people looking to ship their car to Australia (we have a thorough section at our site over here and I especially like the one that’s provided over here) people often seem to be unable to wrap their heads around all the laws, requirements and seemingly endless “small details” that the process requires. This doesn’t even begin to talk about trying to find the best price for the shipping. In this post I will try to give a very basic and easy to understand summary of some of the things to check, ask and watch out for when trying to get your vehicle to Australia.

Firstly, one must ask themselves if shipping the car to Australia is worthwhile. Obviously, the cost of the shipment is crucial here but there are other things to factor in as well. You’ll want to check out the cost to insure the shipment of your car, the amount of taxes you may (or may not) have to pay on your car and the port fees you will be responsible for (keeping in mind that many ports have different fees).

The type of car you are contemplating shipping to Australia could also factor into the decision. For example, gas prices in Australia are much more affordable for an engine that’s less than 1.8 liters. Such a car would have this extra factor to account for when considering shipping.

The value of your car also must be considered. Prices for selling cars in Australia can vary greatly. The majority of cars being shipped to Australia are about six years old with a value of about $15,000. However, it is not uncommon for people to be looking to sell their car once it’s shipped to Australia only to realize the market value is not what they expected.

If one does the above calculations and still would like to go through with shipping a car to Australia then it is time to get all the requirements in order. The automobile will need a Vehicle Import Approval, need to be cleared through customs and need to be registered (with valid insurance and safety measures all checked out). The Vehicle Import Approval can be obtained from the Vehicle Safety Standards Branch of the Department of Transport and Regional Services and you can get a form from this address* (thanks to that same earlier link for providing the address):

The Administrator of Vehicle Standards

ACT Federal Office of Road Safety

GPO Box 1553

Canberra Australia 2601

*A visitor visa and original overseas registration are required for approval.

After the form has been processed the potential shipper will then begin to be contacted by the relevant parties to proceed.

As you can see, the process of shipping a car to Australia is not an easy one and, again, we haven’t even broached the subject of getting a good, competitive and reliable quote. While this post will send you off in the right direction to get started in the process, the majority of people would rather not be bothered while in the middle of uprooting their lives and moving to Australia. This is where Shipping2Australia.com specializes. When you’re thinking of shipping your car to Australia let us take all these precautions for you and go through the tough process while you just sit back and wait for us to find you the best price. The service is free and you will have the peace of mind to know that, not only is this the best quote out there, but it’s from a reliable and honest car shipping to Australia company as these are the only ones we deal with.

Here’s hoping that this clears up the car shipping to Australia process and that you’ll let us maneuver through it for you while you can concentrate on the rest of your move.

Get your FREE quote for Shipping your Car to Australia now and be ready for your next shipping to Australia tip coming soon.

Previous posts in Shipping to Australia Tips and Information series:

Part 1: Shipping to Australia Tips and Information

Part 2: Cheap Shipping to Australia

Part 3: Shipping Companies to Australia

Part 4: Freight Shipping to Australia

Part 5: Container Shipping to Australia

Part 6: Shipping Prices to Australia

Share on Facebook

Shipping prices to Australia are especially tricky as the relocation is typically from very far distances and, combining this with all the shipping and moving variables that arise from even the most routine of relocations, the idea of trying to get a shipping company to give you an accurate, honest quote becomes even more of a headache, something the average person just has no time to deal with when making such a life altering move.

As mentioned frequently on our site, there are many precautions you can take when trying to get that good shipping price to Australia and, which in turn, will save you hours of pain in the long run. A basic summary of some of the tips we provide when gauging whether the quote you receive is realistic would be checking the following first:

1) Always keep in mind that not all shipping companies deal with an honest work ethic. Keeping your guard up when first speaking to the company will already put you way ahead of the game.

2) Make sure to get all offers of shipping to Australia in writing and to read any contracts carefully. This is particularly true if this is your first move. It will help prevent the dreaded yet all too common occurrence of the shipping company asking for more money once you have already begun your move and are more vulnerable to the immoral intentions of the company.

3) Remember that any price quote you receive online or over the phone should always be viewed as an estimate.

4) A representative of the potential shipping company should personally view the site to be moved in order to receive a more accurate estimate.

5) Make sure the potential shippers are aware of all side factors that may affect the final price. These factors can include, but are not limited to, which floor of the building you live on, whether or not the building has an accessible and functional elevator, how close the moving truck can get to your residence and more.

Finding good shipping prices to Australia can be a full time job on its own and, therefore, it is tough to cover everything in this one post. However, by reading it and following it carefully, you will be miles ahead of the lay person starting from scratch and will save yourself tons of money and hours of frustration when trying to figure it all out on your own.

Our site  takes this even further. It provides a complete library of resources and dedicates itself fully to getting you the best shipping prices to Australia while simultaneously taking care of all the steps and precautions we warn and advise you about. Remember, you have enough to deal with when moving to Australia (or when relocating anywhere) that finding a good shipping price from a reliable company should not have to be added to your list of concerns. Let us do all the work for you at the ideal price: absolutley free!

Get your FREE quote for Shipping to Australia now and be ready for your next shipping to Australia tip coming soon.

Previous posts in Shipping to Australia Tips and Information series:

Part 1: Shipping to Australia Tips and Information

Part 2: Cheap Shipping to Australia

Part 3: Shipping Companies to Australia

Part 4: Freight Shipping to Australia

Part 5: Container Shipping to Australia

Share on Facebook