Cross-Border Resource Library

Country Information - Australia

In an effort to provide information on financial planning issues in the Australia, FPA volunteers have gathered the following links together to point you towards a variety of different resources. 

Each link has a descriptive tag explaining what type of site the link goes to. The tags are:
• GOV for government or regulatory sites
• ORG for non-profit or association sites
• EDU for academic or educational sites
• COM for commercial sites, such as product providers 

Virtually all of the links lead off of FPA's Web site. To give feedback or suggestions on the Australian information below, click here.

Quality of life – local flavor and customs

Health

• http://www.health.gov.au (GOV)
• http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au (GOV)
• http://www.healthinsite.gov.au (GOV)

Social Security coverage

Education standards

• http://www.education.gov.au (GOV)

Ex-pats opinions on quality of life

• http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/oceania/australia (COM)
• http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?frmid=168&dbname=ee&shared=N&forumid=0 (COM)

Immigration issues

Legal Residency

• http://www.immi.gov.au (GOV)

Visas and immigration requirements

• http://www.immi.gov.au (GOV)

Exchange Control

 Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism

• http://www.austrac.gov.au/index.html (GOV)

Cash management

Bank accounts

• http://www.bankaccounts.com.au (COM)
• www.cannex.com.au (COM)
• http://www.australianaustralia.com/page/Opening_a_Bank_Account_in_Australia/190 (COM)

Currency conversion

Education costs

• http://www.education.gov.au (GOV)
• http://yourkidsed.com.au (COM)

Cost of living analysis

• http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6463.0 (GOV)
• http://www.gomatilda.com/calculator/index.cfm (COM)
• http://www.aussiemove.com/aus/costlive.asp (COM)

Housing issues

• http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/everyday-life/housing (GOV)

Tax Planning

Determining liability for income and gains taxes

• http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.asp?pc=001/002/046&mfp=001/002&mnu=1045&st=tp#001_002_046  (GOV)
• http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.asp?doc=/content/29089.htm (GOV)
• http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.asp?pc=001/002/012/005&mfp=001/002&mnu=1118#001_002_012_005 (GOV)

Determining liability for estate taxes

• N/A

Foreign Tax Credit arrangements

• http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/Content/00107951.htm (GOV)

Local taxation of non-local pensions and investments

• http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/8887.htm (GOV)

Investment Planning

Asset Allocation viewed globally

Risk management

Local litigation risks

Liability Insurance

• http://www.business.gov.au/Business+Entry+Point/Business+Topics/Insurance/Types+of+insurance/Liability+insurance.htm(GOV)

Health Insurance

• http://www.ahia.org.au (GOV)
• http://www.iselect.com.au (COM)

Property Insurance

Retirement Planning

Local pension design and tax structure on encashment

• http://www.australia.gov.au/topics/benefits-payments-and-services (GOV)

Social Security agreements between countries

Transferability of Pensions

• http://www.exfin.com/pension-transfers-australia (COM)

Estate Planning and Succession Taxes

Impact on Estate if there is no local Will

• http://www.law4u.com.au/cgi-bin/factsheet_right.asp?article_id=495 (COM)

Local taxation of non-local trusts

• http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/8887.htm&page=12 (GOV)

Creating an international trust

• N/A

Local Regulation

• http://www.asic.gov.au (GOV)
• http://www.findlaw.com.au (ORG)

Referrals to Local Planners