Hello,

I would like to comment on the proposed LAFHA changes, as per the suggestion.  I am on a 457 visa from the UK, having landed in the country at the beginning of this year.  I came with my fiancée and our two children, Ruby (2) and Archie (1).  

For the record, I didn’t make my decision wholly on LAFHA, however living in Sydney and realising how expensive it is here I am pleased that I do receive LAFHA.  I am also pleased as I don’t get help with child care or schooling so I need to pay full cost for that.  I am not a high-flying Exec having it away.  My salary is $95k, before tax.  Most of that goes on food, rent, childcare etc.

I first heard there would be a transition period.  I now understand there will be no transition period.  On a note of integrity, I find this shocking.  I have no intention of fleecing the government, however I would challenge any of the MPs who have two young children to all of a sudden, with 6 weeks notice, to forego part of the money they had with no contingency plan.

I love this country, and was hoping to stay for residency and citizenship one day.  I wanted my kids to grow up here.  I wanted their kids to do the same. 

That is all changed now, if this goes with me having no contingency I physically won’t be able to afford to live here.  So back to the UK, the place where people are constantly pi$$ed off because the government doesn’t care about them and doesn’t listen to them.  Ignorantly, I thought I had left that behind.  What a crying shame.

This may never see the light of day.....but if it does, thanks for reading.

Tom Bright
Associate Director

T.  +61 (2) 8281 5000
M. +61 (0) 488 988 693

www.practicus.com  

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