The New England National Park

Point Look out:

Point Look out is 1564 meters above the sea level, The place is cold and foggy most of the time due to the higher altitude. You can see the coffs coast beach  from the point lookout which is 70 Km away. I recommend going there on a sunny day so you can see the coast. The look out has toilets, seating area and it is wheelchair accessible.

Lyre Bird: 

 If you are lucky you can see a Lyrebird which is a master of mimicry, it can even mimic like a “Chainsaw” or Car alarm or even Camera Click.  The bird look like baby Peacock it can spread its feathers like peacock.

Cascade Falls :

Cascade falls is located on the entrance of the national park across the Thangutti Camping area. You have to walk at least  6 km round trip and its not for the weak hearted. 

Wrights Lookout :

 

On the half way mark to Cascade falls you can see the way to  "Wrights lookout". I recommend to go on the wright look out it has a beautiful view. As It was raining when I went there even though its a great place to be in summer.

Australian Customs Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

The TRS enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

To claim a refund you must:

• Spend $300 (GST inclusive) or more in the one store and get a single tax invoice
• Buy goods no more than 30 days before departure
• Wear or carry the goods on board the aircraft or ship and present them along with your original tax invoice, passport and international boarding pass to a Customs Officer at a TRS facility
• Claims at airports are available up to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight.
• Claims at seaports should be made no earlier than 4 hours and no later than 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time of the vessel.

The refund only applies to goods you take with you as hand luggage or wear (unless aviation security measures, effective from 31 March 2007, in regard to liquids, aerosols and gels prevent you from doing so) onto the aircraft or ship when you leave Australia. It does not apply to services or goods consumed or partly consumed in Australia, such as wine, chocolate or perfume. However, unlike other tourist shopping schemes, most of the goods, such as clothing and cameras, can be used in Australia before departure.

The TRS is open to all overseas visitors and Australian residents, except operating air and sea crew.

The GST refund is calculated by dividing the total amount of the purchase by 11. The WET refund is 14.5 percent of the price paid for wine. For example, if you buy goods for a GST-inclusive price of $660 you will receive a refund of $60. If the $660 is made up of a camera ($460) and wine ($200), you will receive a total refund of $89 (total GST refund of $60 plus $29 WET refund on the wine).

You can collect your refund through one of the following methods:

• cheque
• credit to an Australian bank account
• payment to a credit card.

New aviation security measures, effective from 31 March 2007, will affect the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) that can be taken as hand luggage on flights into and out of Australia. Further information in regard to the new measures is available from the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS).

While TRS claims can still be made for liquids, aerosols and gels, those goods that cannot be taken on board as hand luggage due to the new aviation security measures should be packed in the traveller's hold luggage. However, if those goods are oversized, for example a case of wine, they must be sighted prior to check-in at the Customs Client Services counter.

If you require further info visit Australian customs  website.

ACT compliance operation nets 30 illegal workers

A compliance operation in the Canberra suburb of Barton today resulted in the location of 30 illegal workers in the construction industry.The workers were detained at a construction site in an operation involving the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), with assistance from the Australian Federal Police.

Officers found 30 unlawful non-citizens, including one South Korean, one person from Hong Kong and 28 Chinese nationals, all of whom were working illegal on the construction site.

The group has now been detained and will be transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, pending their removal from Australia at the earliest opportunity.

Investigations into the circumstances of their employment are continuing.

A departmental spokesman said the operation served as a warning to individuals and employers that illegal work and breaches of immigration law will not be tolerated.

“The department is committed to ensuring the integrity of its migration and visa programs,” the spokesman said.

“The operation demonstrates that if people work illegally or employ illegal workers, they will be caught.

“It is the responsibility of employers to check with the department that all people they hire have the legal right to work in Australia.”

Employers can face severe penalties for hiring people who do not have work rights in Australia. Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

People with information about illegal workers or visa over-stayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.

Employers can gain access to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service which allows employers to provide relevant identification details of prospective employees with their consent to quickly confirm that they are eligible to work in Australia.

Source: DIAC Newsroom

Unregistered migration agent pleads guilty

        

   An education agent for international students in Sydney pleaded guilty today in Downing Centre Local Court for providing and charging for immigration assistance when he was not registered as a migration agent.

The Department of the Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) initiated court action against the agent, Kai Hua (Kevin) Cong, when it was discovered he had unlawfully asked for and received fees for providing immigration assistance.

A departmental spokesman warned similar operators – whose role is to liaise between international students and local educational institutions – that they could face possible prison terms and fines for providing immigration assistance, even if they operate as an education agent.

“Although education agents do not need to be registered, migration agents must be registered to ensure they have the requisite qualifications and undertake professional development to maintain their knowledge of migration law and procedure,” the spokesman said.

Mr Cong pleaded guilty today to two counts of asking for and receiving fees for providing immigration assistance while unregistered, in contravention of section 281 of the Migration Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

A further charge of giving unregistered immigration assistance, which attracts a fine of up to $6600 under the Migration Act, was placed on a schedule. This charge will be taken into account during sentencing, which is listed for February 22.

Migration agents are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Office of the MARA).

Clients wishing to find out whether an individual is registered as a migration agent can do so by visiting the Office of the MARA’s website at https://www.mara.gov.au/.

Source : Australian Immigration

Free Share market Game- Winning Prize $15,000

ASX Sharemarket Games are a hands-on, interactive and fun experience.  They are an ideal way to learn about the world of share investing. With a hypothetical $50,000 to invest, you have the opportunity to create your own share portfolio.  Experience what it is like to invest in the sharemarket without spending a cent of your own money.

• Buy and sell shares to increase the value of your portfolio in a set time frame
• Simulates real sharemarket conditions
• Great prizes to be won!

Public Sharemarket Game

• The Game challenge is to increase the value of your share portfolio in a set time frame
• Simulates real sharemarket conditions as you buy and sell shares online using "real time" share prices
• Total prize pool over $15,000
• More details
• How to register for the Game 

 
Game 1 2011

• Registration: 27 January - 16 February
• Trading: 17 February - 1 June            

Source: Australain Stock Exchange

Companies will be fined 66,000 per illegal worker

Friday diners at a Melbourne restaurant could face slim pickings following an Immigration compliance operation overnight which took away 12 of its 14 staff.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) compliance officers, with Victoria Police, located 12 illegal workers at a busy Glen Waverley restaurant.

A departmental spokesman said it was believed to be the largest number of illegal workers yet located during a single-restaurant compliance operation by DIAC in Victoria.

“Of the eight men and four women detained, 11 were Malaysian nationals and one a Chinese national,” the spokesman said.

“About 70 patrons were there when DIAC officers and Glen Waverley police officers attended last night.

“Those detained included cooks, kitchen hands, waiters and waitresses.

“Eleven had overstayed their visas, while another was working in breach of his visa conditions, and had his visa cancelled.”

All were transferred to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) while arrangements were made to remove them from Australia as soon as possible.

“The restaurant owner will get a first-warning from DIAC about penalties for employing illegal workers and be advised how to verify whether prospective staff can legally work in Australia,” the spokesman said.

The department receives information from various sources, include tip-offs, about people working without visas, or working in breach of visa conditions.

Employers have access to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service, allowing them to provide relevant identification details of prospective employees, with their consent, to confirm they are eligible to work in Australia.

Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment, while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

Source: Australian Immigration

Immigration Supports clients affected by flood.

             The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is working to support visa holders in Queensland and northern New South Wales who may be affected by the devastating floods.

DIAC is aware there are significant numbers of temporary visa holders, including overseas workers and tourists, as well as migrants, in flood-affected areas.

If people in the affected areas hold a visa which is about to expire, or work for a business which has been affected, or are otherwise concerned about their immigration status, the department urges them to contact DIAC as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances and options available.

The department is also in contact with employers of visa holders in affected areas to offer advice and assistance. Businesses and sponsors who are concerned about the possible impacts on their overseas workers should also contact DIAC.

Affected visa holders or businesses can contact the department on 131 881.

DIAC expresses its sympathy to all people in those regions affected by the floods.

The Australian Government is continuing to support the Queensland Government by providing assistance to communities affected by the floods and monitoring the situation.

Source: http://www.immi.gov.au