A$25k is inclusive of the employer contribution (mostly 9.5% unless the employer gives you an extra perk by contributing more for you). If you are on base pay A$100k, the employers mandatory 9.5% will mean that you can only put in A$15.5k of your own contributions (employer is contributing A$9.5k).

I have a defined benefit super which is very generous (17% employer contribution) so i can't put in a lot of my own money. However, we can put in A$100k/yr of after-tax money (non-concessional) so if you have some extra money, it may be a good idea to put in some non-concessional (if your concessional A$25k has been used up) esp for oldies like me.

If you don't put the extra money inside super and invest it outside super, your returns are taxed at your marginal rate while inside super your returns are taxed at 15% - for me personally definitely better to put it inside super as i am on the 37% tax bracket (plus 2% medicare levy).

When i started out in this forum (Jul 2017), i came to LYN to find out the cost of living in KL so naturally threads regarding cost of living really interested me.

I have been back to KL for quite a few times in the past 3 years each time staying about 5-7 weeks. I wrote down everything i spent while in KL but obviously we tend to spend more when we are on holidays and it is quite difficult to judge how much i will need without actually living there. I saw a lot of old people in KL with hardly any savings - shit!! This reqlly scared me as in Aust, we can fall back on the aged-pension. Also, i can see some of my relatives struggling financially (aged in the 70s) and i realise that they will probably expect me to help out as i am financially a lot better. In Aust, there is so much govt welfare relatives usually don't need help from each other. I became a bit insecure (financially) after seeing so many people struggling in KL (esp since i will probably lose my PR as i probably cannot meet the 2/5 years stay requirement). I do not want to end up like these people. Due to this insecurity, i find that it is probably better if i work longer so that there will be a bigger buffer if anything goes wrong in later years.

Good to hear your opinion. Thanks.

People will find it impossible to find a job in the current climate. I have enough money to live on so getting the redundancy package is a bonus. You should never leave your job in the current circumstances as this recession is predicted to last at least a few years. Luckily the last 2 weeks, i have been reducing my risk exposure although i still have 30% highly exposed and i am very comfortable with a 30% risk exposure - even if markets takes another 35% dive (this will cause a depression), i can still weather the storm. Main thing is i have no gearing so that is very important (i don't even have a home loan!).

I plan to drive in Australia, do I need to apply international license or just normal Malaysia license will do?

I think VIC/ACT is fine but not so sure about TAS/NT in terms of job opportunity is one is too far north from everything else and the other is a south island. Provisional visa - how is it different from permanent visa? I think the points requirement is only needed when we apply, after living there for 3 years - is it correct to assume that visa will be automatically renewed if we meet the requirements of living there 3 out of 5 years?

Hopefully 491 visa will not be that competitive, i saw latest invitation round of 189 & 190 visa min point is 95, not an easy feat to achieve.

Hi, can you share some insight to how temporary visa like 491 work? I only know its provisional for 5 years and I thought it auto convert to permanent visa after fulfilling 3 out of 5 years.

However, based on what you written, I guess my assumption is wrong.

Did you mean that after we complete 491, we need to apply for 189/190 subjected to approval to be granted permanent visa?

We are late 30s so I don't think subsequent 189/190 will work in our favour.

Appreciate if you can share your experience and knowledge. Thank you. 🙏

At a glance, under visa 491 (a temporary visa); you will not be an australian resident for tax purposes.

Therefore your tax rates will be:

I'm afraid I beg to differ on the 183-day rule. Yes, it has always been the basic rule for many countries and tax regimes in this world.

But the ATO has mentioned very specifically that one can be treated as a Tax Resident using other criteria, and such criteria will be used in a Residency Test. If the Residency Test determines one is a Tax Resident, then taxable worldwide income comes into play !

A few of my investor friends kena this because their their families stay in Australia, of their children go to school in Australia or they have some properties in Australia.

I have been told MAS is still flying Syd to KL as well as Melb to KL but flights are very infrequent. I have a friend who flew to KL from Sydney about 12 days ago. You still have to be locked in for quarantine for 14 days when you reach KL.

If you're worried about surprises then you can do more research to understand better. Expatforum has lots of information regarding migration to Aus compared to LYN this so you could check it. The agencies would be able to answer which visa is best for your scenario because everyone have different background. A friend of mine in the early 40s went on a regional visa due to their age and points. I went on a 189 visa which was quite straightforward.

Migration rules changes on a yearly basis, which could affect your chances or delay your visa. If you're keen to migrate, I would advise to start an application soon cause it takes time to get invited. Different visas and different states have different requirements.

I'm afraid I beg to differ on the 183-day rule. Yes, it has always been the basic rule for many countries and tax regimes in this world.

i said if you stay 183 days or more in oz, you are a tax resident....which part of that don't you agree?....

i didn't say that's the ONLY test for being a tax resident....there's other criteria, eg superannuation, "resides", domicile tests....

I do not agree if you have just the first sentence on your posting (I bolded this in the above). And you had the first sentence only in your earlier posting.

BUT : if you had the second sentence above, or something along that sentence, then I would not have disagreed.

You can also check on the regional visa (TR) for 489 South Australia as it's much easier to get. But you will have to apply at the perfect timing once the invitation round opens... if I could remember it's around Jun/July. So let's use an example where the invitation round is on 1st June, you have to apply on 1st June as the quota gets filled pretty fast. Every visa from different states works differently. I just so happen to know how it works for 489 south australia as I applied for it before.  Look at their list of jobs on demand and see if you meet it. I think the visa number changed recently.. I don't remember lol.

Just asking here : is it difficult for an overseas student who studied Years 7 till 12 inside the Australian Curriculum to enter a university such as The University of Melbourne or another similar university ?

Do they look closely at the ATAR Scores ?

Thank you, Lim,.. emm,... what would the minimum ATAR score needed to enter, say,... the University of Melbounse,... or a similar class Uni, for Chemical Eng'g or Environmental Eng'g ? Would you know pls ?