Meanwhile, in the West Island....

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

I would recommend that Kiwis living in Australia diddle the Australian tax department out of some of the tax workers would normally pay.

Deducting the share for lack of benefits and other government services would be the correct way to go.

Currently, the Oz government is committing THEFT on a grand scale.

Anything is fair game against THIEVES.

I'm sure creative Kiwis could find plenty of ways to deprive the Oz government of revenue if they put their minds to it.

[reality]

kj..."I would recommend that Kiwis living in Australia diddle the Australian tax department out of some of the tax workers would normally pay."


...they did...now they live at Christmas Island....some were flown home to NZ last week

[reality]

...ozzies get tough on crime


PISS OFF AND HERE’S YOUR BILL FOR BEING A DROP KICK

The Aussies have billed a violent thug for the costs of his deportation.

Johnny Anderson said he received the bill from Australia’s Immigration Department, for the costs of flying him from the detention centre to Perth last Thursday and on to Auckland by charter flight with 14 other deportees yesterday.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Amy Adams said she accepted Australia’s assurances that no deportee would be required to pay any charge.

She also accepted the assurance that no person’s appeal against being deported would be prejudiced once they were back in New Zealand.

The discussion arose after a form to be signed by deportees came to light, which said they would incur a debt for removal and any appeal could be discontinued once they were in New Zealand.   


Australia’s immigration minister Peter Dutton said yesterday he had ordered changes to the form.

Mr Anderson, who has been living in Australia for 21 years and was jailed for six years for grievous bodily harm, told Checkpoint he was confused when he got the bill.

“I got that delivered to me the Friday of last week, just before they deported me, they come down and said, ‘look we’re gonna send you back and this is the bill that you’re gonna be facing.’

“But my family in Australia are going to try and seek some legal advice for me, to see what we can do there.”

Mr Anderson, who previously worked as a builder on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, said he did not know what to do as he was not in a position to pay it.

Grievous bodily harm, nice chap, these are the sorts of guys Labour are sticking up for.
– RadioNZ
by Cameron Slater on December 10, 2015 at 4:30pm

[reality]

 Karma?...... 

Australia-UK bond ‘under threat’ from Britain’s ‘discriminatory’ visa and migration policies: DFAT report
DECEMBER 13, 20158:16PM

By CHARLES MIRANDA in LondonNews Corp Australia Network

EXCLUSIVE
BRITAIN’S love affair with Australian workers is officially over with the “unique” bond between the two countries undermined by “discriminatory” immigration policies that next year will see thousands of workers forced to leave the UK.
That’s the damning conclusion of a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report into a new tranche of UK visa rules set to come into effect next year that the Australian Government has already warned would cause “structural damage” to formal relations between the two countries.
A summary of the report, obtained by News Corp Australia, pointed to widespread disenchantment among Australian directed or related businesses operating in the UK.
More than half of 100 businesses surveyed, staffed with between 10 and 10,000 staff, said visa rule changes would directly impact planned investment in the UK while two-thirds of respondents said it would “significantly impact their ability and willingness to recruit Australians”.
‘Discriminatory’ immigration policies ... There has been a 50 per cent drop in Australian migration between 1999 and 2011.
‘Discriminatory’ immigration policies ... There has been a 50 per cent drop in Australian migration between 1999 and 2011.Source:Supplied
“The UK’s visa changes are making this country a less welcoming destination for Australians,” the Australian High Commission signed report states.
“This potentially harms the UK’s image and reputation in Australia, and might even in the long term undermine the unique Australia-UK bond.”
As previously reported, in 2011 the British Government closed certain skilled worker visas and capped other at just 20,000 positions for all nations from outside the European Union.
The move came after the EU’s open borders saw a dramatic rise of skilled or semi-skilled workers flood the UK, particularly from eastern European nations.
Next year UK worker restrictions are to be further tightened and extended to intra-company transfers, spouses right to work and see levies implemented.
There has been a 50 per cent drop in Australian migration between 1999 and 2011, to just 26,000 people with another 14 per cent drop in the past four years.
The Australian Government has formally protested the move in a rare strongly worded diplomatic missive from High Commissioner Alexander Downer to Whitehall and Westminster’s Migration Advisory Committee.
Taking up the fight ... Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer sent a strongly worded diplomatic memo to Whitehall about the visa restrictions. Picture: Ella Pellegrini
Taking up the fight ... Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer sent a strongly worded diplomatic memo to Whitehall about the visa restrictions. Picture: Ella PellegriniSource:News Corp Australia
Mr Downer ordered a survey of business in the UK to be down to make his case.
The Australian racing industry in the UK responded claiming it was suffering “dramatic staff shortages” that could not be filled locally while another firm said employees were shifting their work to New York where visas were easier to obtain.
Unlike for other nationalities, if a UK firm hires an Australian, that person has to return to Australia to obtain a visa or to switch visas.
“The UK’s refusal to allow in-country switching deters employers and discriminates against Australians,” the survey concluded.
Ironically, the report’s findings concluded last week came as the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales warned economic growth would slow as business investment stalled and costs in the construction sector expected to rise due predominantly to a skills shortage and an increase in pay growth beyond other major sectors.
Agreement proposal ... Mayor of London Boris Johnson has argued for a fair but firm visa system. Picture: AP/Alastair Grant
Agreement proposal ... Mayor of London Boris Johnson has argued for a fair but firm visa system. Picture: AP/Alastair GrantSource:AP
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who studied in Melbourne in his youth, said he would be taking the case up with Prime Minister David Cameron for Australia’s unique position in UK history to be recognised.
“The Mayor has long argued for a fair but firm visa system that attracts talented people from across the world to come to London to live and work,” a spokesman said.
“He believes that Commonwealth citizens should be given more freedom to contribute to London’s economy, culture and communities, particularly given the strong cultural connections between our countries. As a start, the Mayor has proposed an agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom that allows greater movement of skilled people between both countries in order to address skills shortages. This could be extended further to other Commonwealth countries, if successful.”

[nitpicker1]

TBA
The terrifying moment tornado-like record breaking winds of 213km/h battered Kurnell, in Sydney’s south, has been captured on camera.

Further destructive winds of up to 111km/h from a second storm front are now hitting Sydney and the Central Coast, along with large hail stones and heavy rain.


Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/wild-weather/2015/12/16/08/43/severe-thunderstorm-warning-issued-for-sydney-gosford-and-wollongong#WlOaF3TmteRjSeFH.99

[Alicat]

I have a friend living in NSW. She's scared of storms and says this one is a real doozy.

[reality]

yes..I have been in some bad ones in North Queensland....quite scary when you see large objects floating through the air...and I dont scare easily

[nitpicker1]

yes..I have been in some bad ones in North Queensland....quite scary when you see large objects floating through the air...and I dont scare easily

Seems to me that Queensland is often in the firing line. Sydney is getting it this time. 

I have a friend living in NSW. She's scared of storms and says this one is a real doozy.

Flooding is associated with it too.  Extra bad when storms like this are happening at night.   

[reality]

Yes, I remember a couple of times at night when it was just like a strobe light for long periods, when you are ringing to take out home insurance ...often as soon as you say your address they dont want to know you ...they just say that they do not insure in that area

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[nitpicker1]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/75463165/Victoria-Bushfires-Great-Ocean-Road-towns-evacuated-as-fire-hits-coast-homes

 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

(click on the picture to read the news story)

[reality]

....Kiwi's.....such nice people


NOW HERE’S A GENIUS KIWI WHO WANTS TO BE DEPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA, BUT HE WON’T BE

Who knew sucker punching someone hard could kill them?

A New Zealand man charged over a fatal assault on a Brisbane teenager at the weekend allegedly asked his mates “do you want to see something funny?” before he delivered the killer punch.

Police allege Daniel Jermaine Lee Maxwell made the “callous” boast to co-accused Armstrong Renata, also a New Zealander living in Australia, before fatally striking Cole Miller, 18, on Sunday morning.

Mr Miller was instantly knocked out by the force of the blow. He suffered massive brain trauma and he died on Monday after his family made the decision to turn off his life support.

Maxwell and Renata, both 21 and from Auckland, were initially charged with grievous bodily harm when the appeared in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Monday.


However yesterday they appeared for a second time after police upgraded the charge to unlawfully striking causing death.

Both men hit Mr Miller and have been jointly charged though it appears police allege the fatal hit came from Maxwell.

Surely Kelvin Davis and the Labour Party will want to swing into action on this potential constituent of theirs?   Surely life in prison isn’t something that he should be facing in Australia?

Surely he needs to be sent to New Zealand so he can be “closer to family”?

Kelvin?

Kelvin?

Thought not.

– Anna Leask, NZ Herald
by Cameron Slater on January 6, 2016 at 10:00am

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[reality]

....gtood to see Oz offering more resources to fight ISIS.....


Turnbull visits Anzac troop camp

5:00 AM Monday Jan 18, 2016

Armed Forces International Politics Iraq Iraq War... National

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on European countries to "step up" with stronger help to defeat the Islamic State during a brief, unannounced visit to Australian troops in Iraq.

Speaking to several hundred Australia and Kiwi soldiers at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, Mr Turnbull flagged possible further Australian contributions but stressed the commitment would not last forever.

"We're encouraging other countries, particularly other European countries, Nato countries, to step up and make a greater contribution, too," he said.

Australia has about 300 troops training the Iraqi Army at Taji base as well as an air taskforce including six Hornet fighter jets and about 80 elite special force soldiers helping direct Iraqi combat operations from various bases.

Mr Turnbull said Australia's contribution to Iraq remained the second-largest after the US, though Italy could surpass Australia if its most recent pledges were fulfilled.


Many European countries have had relatively modest contributions in Iraq and Syria, though some have started to step up their roles.

"What further commitments we were to make would depend on the circumstances. But we do not intend to be in Iraq forever," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Turnbull met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad and also visited the special forces soldiers there.

Mr Turnbull said Mr al-Abadi was "so appreciative" of the Australian help and that of New Zealand, which has about 100 troops working alongside the Diggers at Taji base in the training role.

-AAP

[reality]

...jeeezzzus..they might beat us to it 

Republic debate: Australian leaders call for head of state

5:00 PM Monday Jan 25, 2016

Australian Republican Movement chair Peter FitzSimons says Australia "can do better than to find our heads of state from one family of unelected people living in a palace in England". Photo / Getty

Australia is being urged to "seize this moment" in the republic debate after almost all state and territory leaders signed a declaration calling for an Australian head of state.

Australian Republican Movement chair Peter FitzSimons says it's a "no-brainer" that Australia will become a republic, insisting support for the push is phenomenal.

He says the support from political leaders, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, was no less than a "declaration of desired independence".

The only state leader who declined to sign was West Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

Mr FitzSimons said he was "bemused" by Mr Barnett's refusal to sign, saying the premier sent him a note insisting he was committed to the republican movement but wasn't keen to sign yet.


He believes Mr Barnett is worried about losing votes in the upcoming state election.

He's also suggested Mr Barnett's hesitation has to do with the premier's opening of Elizabeth Quay on the Swan River this week.

"He thinks he is going to lose votes. He won't lose votes on this," Mr FitzSimons told the Nine Network on Monday.

Mr FitzSimons also rejected suggestions the movement should wait until Queen Elizabeth II dies.

"Australia can do better than to find our heads of state from one family of unelected English people living in a palace in England.

"Have the Queen come when she is young enough and instead of bowing and curtseying, the nation rises as one in a standing ovation and says thank you your majesty, we will take it from here."

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr believes Australia's ties to the monarchy reflect a nation of the past.

"It's time for us to grow up and stand on our own two feet," he said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk believes it's time for Australia to be led by one of its own while her South Australian counterpart Jay Weatherill thinks becoming a sovereign nation would profoundly change Australian mindsets.

The Australian Republican Movement wants a plebiscite on the republic by 2020, to be followed by a referendum if the initial vote is successful.

Mr FitzSimons says Australia would now go into a vote with united political leadership at the federal and state level, insisting the "euphoria" was building.

On Monday morning, a Change.org petition by Mr FitzSimons calling for a republic had only garnered 4200 signatures since Friday.

-AAP

[reality]

Southern Horizon favoured for Australia's new national flag - survey  video
29
...NZ leading the way.....again


Alternative Australian flag 'Southern Horizon' wins vote

An alternative flag design called the "Southern Horizon" is the most popular choice out of six designs, in a survey of 8140 people organised by Western Sydney University.

Australians want a new national flag - but not too different from the existing one, it seems.

A survey of more than 8000 people has found that this design, in which the Federation Star and the Southern Cross continue to feature prominently on a blue background, was the most popular among voters.

Gone is any sign of the Union Jack and instead, the national colours of green and gold feature in a wave-like design at the bottom of the flag, called the Southern Horizon.

Australia's current flag is very similar to New Zealand's current flag.

he Alternative Australian Flag Survey was conducted by Dr Benjamin T Jones, an adjunct research fellow at Western Sydney University, and aimed to find out Australians' attitudes to their flag and how they would feel if it was changed.


An alternative flag design called "Southern Horizon" is the most popular choice out of six designs, in a survey of 8140 people organised by Western Sydney University.
SMH
An alternative flag design called "Southern Horizon" is the most popular choice out of six designs, in a survey of 8140 people organised by Western Sydney University.

The survey, which ran from December 16 to January 25, asked voters to choose their favourite from among six flag designs, and was part of a larger Australian Research Council-funded project examining Australian national symbols.

Revealing the results on Australia Day, Jones said 31 per cent of respondents voted for Southern Horizon, followed by the Reconciliation Flag, which attracted 28 per cent of the vote. That flag features the colours red, yellow and black prominently to recognise indigenous Australians.

Voters were asked to choose between six different flag designs. Photo: Western Sydney Universit

"Those who support a new Australian flag design fall primarily into two categories; those who want a neutral design with some link to the current flag, and those who want a completely new design with specific recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,"  Jones said.

He said the winning design featured "minimal changes beyond the removal of the Union Jack".

The survey results mirrored the recent flag referendum in New Zealand, he said, where the winning alternative design, the Silver Fern, maintained the blue background and red stars of the current national flag.

While 8140 people took part in the survey, only 6427 choose a favourite alternative flag design.

Jones said that could be interpreted as a protest vote by those who wanted to keep the current flag, and from those who favoured a design not included in the survey.

The survey found 64 per cent of respondents believed the Australian flag should change, compared with 36 per cent who believed it should remain the same.

The Eureka Flag came third, with 15 per cent of the vote, however many people rejected the design for its "negative association with unions and extreme right-wing groups", Dr Jones said.

The Golden Wattle flag, the Sporting Flag, and the Southern Cross flag were the least popular..

The most common responses when asked what elements should be in a new Australian flag were: "simplicity", "Southern Cross", and "green and gold".

Most participants who favoured a new flag suggested they would support any design that did not have a Union Jack, even if it was not their favourite, Dr Jones said.

 - SMH

[Alicat]

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[reality]

Kiwi firefighters to help battle Tasmania bushfires

4:29 PM Thursday Jan 28, 2016

Kiwi firefighters will be lending a hand to combat blazes in Tasmania.

Forty-three firefighters will fly out from Auckland and Christchurch tomorrow afternoon to begin a three-week deployment.

Nearly 80 fires are burning throughout Tasmania, most started by lightning strikes and fuelled by drought conditions and strong winds.

National Rural Fire Officer Kevin O'Connor said crews would initially concentrate on containing fires in World Heritage sites in the west and southwest of the island where the fire risk was extreme.

The group consists of eight five-member teams, plus three liaison staff. The teams come from rural fire authorities in Whangarei, Auckland, Rotorua, Nelson and Invercargill.

A Defence Force team and Department of Conservation team will also join the deployment -- the eleventh to Australia since 2001.

Forty-five rural firefighters returned from the country this week after battling fires along Victoria's southwest coast.

- NZ Herald

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

(click on the picture to read the news story)

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[nitpicker1]

 
Vid


'Hairy Panic' Tumbleweed Engulfs Homes, Frustrates Residents in Australia Town
By AVIANNE TAN
Feb 19, 2016, 5:49 PM


http://abcnews.go.com/International/hairy-panic-tumbleweed-engulfs-homes-frustrates-residents-australia/story?id=37064542

Oh well, saves ya picking up the dogs hit and mowing the lawn.
 

[ssweetpea]

The really funny bit is that the common name of the weed is "Hairy Panic".

It doesn't just cause a hairy panic.