The totally off-topic thread

[penegal]

Actually, a relative a mine completed an Honours degree in Engineering through ADFA (Army). So not just a free Tertiary Education, but he was also paid. He stayed just on a year in the services then was able to leave - on compassionate grounds - his partner had an illness during pregnancy but is now fully recovered. My father was in the Navy - no University degree but he had to sign up for 12 years. This really rankles with me as my relative then got a high paid job in the mines - FIFO as well!

Under normal circumstances he would have been bonded to the army for at least N+1 years.

Without knowing details of the hardship it is hard to comment, but it certainly sounds like he landed on his feet with a degree and no debt ready to start his new job.

 

[whatmeworry]

A few years ago the government "froze" the cost of Nursing and Teaching degrees as "National Priority Areas" or something to that affect.

Not sure it helped enrollments much.

They lowered science hecs fees a few years ago (Might have gone up). My yearly Master's hecs fees were lower then my yearly undergraduate degree.

Coincidently the ATO today informs by SMS I have to inform them If I move overseas for work, so they can get their precious hecs fees.

 

[Pushka]

Under normal circumstances he would have been bonded to the army for at least N+1 years.

Without knowing details of the hardship it is hard to comment, but it certainly sounds like he landed on his feet with a degree and no debt ready to start his new job.

Thats my take too.

 

[JohnK]

while that sounds deeply profound, what does it actually mean?

Persevere, give up or lower your expectation when it looks like you won't succeed? Assuming that your own energy is limited how much focus could you put into a losing battle but still maintaining some sanity?

Think some people hang on to dreams/goals too long taking focus away from other important things.

 

[Pushka]

Think some people hang on to dreams/goals too long taking focus away from other important things.

I hear you there. When to give up and when not to give up.

But some things you just cant move on from, and the thoughts and disappointments can revisit you years later just when you thought you were done with them.

 

[penegal]

Thats my take too.

20-30 years ago I doubt that would have been the case.

 

[penegal]

I have a friend who went to ANU, did the PhB, then PhD. Spent about 3+ years of that time at universities around the world ("on exchange"), and then got a [very well paid] job overseas. He has no intention of ever returning to Australia to work with out high tax rates, let alone paying the HECS back. Naturally if he ever changes his mind and returns to Australia he will have a large indexed debt, but that doesn't look likely at the moment.

My friend is a minority case, but there are plenty of dual citizens who return to the "motherland", or even regular Aussies who try their luck in the big cities of London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc and spend extended periods away from Australia not paying their HECS back.

Coincidently the ATO today informs by SMS I have to inform them If I move overseas for work, so they can get their precious hecs fees.

I think the new "self-reporting" scheme is pretty ambitious. A few "honest" people may do it, but there is absolutely no incentive to do it.

 

[whatmeworry]

Qantas Mathematics.

 

[TomVexille]

Qantas Mathematics.

View attachment 64248

Better than Virgin mathematics.

 

[mannej]

Qantas Mathematics.

View attachment 64248

I'm sure that can be explained by the rounding. I'm not sure what excuse VA had.

 

[drron]

I'm sure that can be explained by the rounding. I'm not sure what excuse VA had.

Correct answer.Similiar to our recent Kalgoorlie flights.The airfare actually came to $x.56.For 2 it was $2x-1 but coming to actually pay it was $2x-0.88.
AA do the same thing.

 

[Julesmac]

MrMac had cancer treatment last year at The Alfred in Melbourne. (Thankfully a positive outcome). How lucky we are in this country to have, despite what $$$$ successive state and federal govts rip out, an amazing health system, world class research and treatment facilities, dedicated doctors. We always thought nurses were great but now we know that for sure! Truly the care we received from each and every one we came in contact with was amazing. You could not pay people enough, in my view, to adequately recompense them for their dedication. If people work in the emergency services (and teachers too)_ I have concluded it's because they have a real vocation and do not do it for the money alone. It astounds me that any of 'em have to go on strike to get better pay and conditions. Whereas politicians......

 

[Deleted member]

I have a friend who went to ANU, did the PhB, then PhD. Spent about 3+ years of that time at universities around the world ("on exchange"), and then got a [very well paid] job overseas. He has no intention of ever returning to Australia to work with out high tax rates, let alone paying the HECS back. Naturally if he ever changes his mind and returns to Australia he will have a large indexed debt, but that doesn't look likely at the moment.

My friend is a minority case, but there are plenty of dual citizens who return to the "motherland", or even regular Aussies who try their luck in the big cities of London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc and spend extended periods away from Australia not paying their HECS back.



I think the new "self-reporting" scheme is pretty ambitious. A few "honest" people may do it, but there is absolutely no incentive to do it.

I'm sure his mother is very proud of him.

 

[Deleted member]

Persevere, give up or lower your expectation when it looks like you won't succeed? Assuming that your own energy is limited how much focus could you put into a losing battle but still maintaining some sanity?

Think some people hang on to dreams/goals too long taking focus away from other important things.

I suppose the trick is to identify the unwindable battles early and move on to more productive endeavours.

 

[JohnK]

I suppose the trick is to identify the unwindable battles early and move on to more productive endeavours.

That's trick but not so easy to identify the winable battles. Even more complex when emotions are involved. One of the burdens (or joys) of life.

 

[trixydoza]

Learning that the world doesn't revolve around you can also make things easier.

 

[anat0l]

I have a friend who went to ANU, did the PhB, then PhD. Spent about 3+ years of that time at universities around the world ("on exchange"), and then got a [very well paid] job overseas. He has no intention of ever returning to Australia to work with out high tax rates, let alone paying the HECS back. Naturally if he ever changes his mind and returns to Australia he will have a large indexed debt, but that doesn't look likely at the moment.

My friend is a minority case, but there are plenty of dual citizens who return to the "motherland", or even regular Aussies who try their luck in the big cities of London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc and spend extended periods away from Australia not paying their HECS back.



I think the new "self-reporting" scheme is pretty ambitious. A few "honest" people may do it, but there is absolutely no incentive to do it.

This is the kind of thing I'm wondering - how will the Australian Government (ATO) ensure that people are going to report and pay their HECS as required?

If you declare yourself a non-citizen for tax purposes, what will that mean?

Let's say you are working and then you go overseas. Let's say, for the sake of it, you change your tax status in Australia to a non-citizen. You come back after 15 years. Change status back to citizen for tax purposes. So the debt is still there, but you haven't had to pay a cent and the ATO doesn't care?

If you move overseas and die overseas as well, will the Australian Government come after your estate if you haven't declared how much you earned overseas in the time before you died?

I realise that the USA IRS has some rather extraordinary ways of keeping tabs on their citizens, much to the chagrin of the latter, with various threats of issuing charges for tax fraud or evasion, making it a scary prospect for some of those citizens to head back to the USA. I'm not sure the Australian Government has the same kind of thing going.

 

[coco50]

An article in the Daily Mail about Sharia Law is unlikely to provide rational theological/economic/legal/political commentary.

Surprised how much Jack Daniels is drunk: not that it is unpopular in the UK, just doesn't seem a typical Parliament drink (even for guests)

Notice that the house drops and the "guest" beer are the most popular. Cheapskates!

 

[Julesmac]

That's trick but not so easy to identify the winable battles. Even more complex when emotions are involved. One of the burdens (or joys) of life.

Have a friend whose son is an actor. In his early 30s. Started brilliantly but it doesn't seem to have transferred to regular or indeed much ongoing work, despite stints in Sydney, LA & NYC. How many workshops and auditions can he keep going to before pulling the pin? I don't know. it must be soul destroying to keep on doing your absolute best - and missing out. However it's his dream and he is single minded about it.

Sometimes, however, it is better for your pysche, soul, whatever, to draw a line and move on. Not easy, of course.

 

[penegal]

Have a friend whose son is an actor. In his early 30s. Started brilliantly but it doesn't seem to have transferred to regular or indeed much ongoing work, despite stints in Sydney, LA & NYC. How many workshops and auditions can he keep going to before pulling the pin? I don't know. it must be soul destroying to keep on doing your absolute best - and missing out. However it's his dream and he is single minded about it.

Sometimes, however, it is better for your pysche, soul, whatever, to draw a line and move on. Not easy, of course.

Making ends meet in the arts is very challenging.

I know a lot of people who are brilliant, but converting that to a regular consistent pay cheque is difficult. Many end up working "entry level" or "low skill" type jobs to pay the bills in-between gigs / calls / shows / etc.