Tariff 11 is the normal Domestic tariff for Lighting, Power & Continuous water heating.

Tariff 31 and 33 are additional options available, with an extra meter in the meter box. Both these systems have limited hours of availability, although at the suppliers discretion they may leave them active 24 hours per day, if general electricity demand is low.

Tariff 31 the Super Economy Night Rate only guarantees 8 hours of power every 24 hours, and is used mainly for overnight heating uses for hot water or storage heaters.

Tariff 33, Controlled Supply only guarantees 18 hours of power every 24 hours, and is used mainly for hot water systems, Swimming Pool pumps, and other systems that do not require continuous supply.

Supplier name: Origin

From 1 July 2009 (inc GST)

• Tariff 11
  • All consumption - 18.843 c/kWh
  • Service fee per metering point per month $7.249 $/mth
• Tariff 31
  • All consumption 7.689 c/kWh
  • Minimum payment per month $5.049 $/mth
• Tariff 33
  • All consumption 11.319 c/kWh
  • Minimum payment per month $5.049 $/mth

Supplier name: AGL

• Tariff 11
  • All consumption - 18.843 c/kWh
  • Service fee per metering point per month $7.249 $/mth
• Tariff 31
  • All consumption 7.689 c/kWh
  • Minimum payment per month $5.049 $/mth
• Tariff 33
  • All consumption 11.319 c/kWh
  • Minimum payment per month $5.049 $/mth

No related posts.

• Kettle Chips BBQ Grill Crunch Cut
• Kettle Crispy Bacon and Sour Cream Potato Chips
• Kettle Crunch Cut Cheddar and Onion
• Kettle Crunch Cut Rock Salt and Vinegar
• Kettle Honey Baked Ham Potato Chips
• Kettle Original Salted
• Kettle Sensations Chicken, Thyme & Lemon
• Kettle Sensations Sundried Tomato & Pesto
• Kettle Sensations Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream
• Kettle Sour Cream & Chives Hand Cooked Potato Chips
• Kettle Sweet Potato Salt and Pepper
• Kettle Sweet Potato Spice
• Kettle Tangy Mexican Salsa
• Kettle Wood Fired Barbeque Potato Chips

Red Rock Deli Chips - www.redrockdeli.com.au/

• Sea Salt
• Moroccan Spiced Chicken and lemon
• Lime and Black Pepper
• Tzatziki
• Sweet Chilli and Sour Cream
• Honey Soy Chicken
• Dijon Mustard and Honey
• Sea Salt and Rosemary
• Seasoned Roasted Garlic
• Sour Cream and Chives

No related posts.

• Australia: 1.50 per 100,000 people
• Melbourne: 7.40 per 100,000 people (Source)

Murder Rate Comparisons to other Countries:

• United Kingdom: 1.41 per 100,000 people

Murder Rates in India:

Nationally:

• India: 3.44 per 100,000 people

New Delhi:

• New Delhi Murder Rate:  83 per 100,000 people

Number of Murders in 2008: 251
Population: 302,363

Melbourne murder rate per capita of Indians.

Melbourne had an Indian population of 50,686 as at 2006

Assuming that the normal average of 7.4 people per 100,000 population were murdered each year, there would be between 3 and 4 Indians murdered each year, on average, in Melbourne.

One murdered Indian per year would give a 1.97 per 100,000 rate. (Lower than Melbourne’s average)
Two murdered Indians per year would give a 3.95 per 100,000 rate. (Lower than Melbourne’s average)
Three murdered Indians per year would give a 5.92 per 100,000 rate. (Lower than Melbourne’s average)
Four murdered Indians per year would give a 7.89 per 100,000 rate. (Higher than Melbourne’s average)

Sources:
Number of Murders: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/crime-rate-down-in-capital-say-police_100213445.html
Population: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Delhi

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Penalties:

• NSW: Three demerit points and a fine
• QLD: Three demerit points and a $300 fine
• SA: Three demerit points and a fine
• Vic: Three demerit points and a fine
• WA: Three demerit points and a $250 fine

It is illegal to use a hands-free phone while driving, if it causes you to lose proper control of your vehicle

Penalties:

• NSW: Three demerit points and a fine
• QLD: Three demerit points and a $300 fine
• SA: The offence of driving without due care or dangerous driving.
• Vic: Three demerit points and a fine
• WA: ?

Links:

NSW: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/driverdistractions/index.html

QLD: http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Licensing/Driver_licence/Getting_a_licence/Car/Restrictions/Mobile_phone_restriction/

SA: http://www.dtei.sa.gov.au/roadsafety/Safer_behaviours/inattention/mobile_phone_use

Vic: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/LicencesPenalties/DemeritPointOffences.htm

WA: http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/TopicsRoadSafety/Pages/MobilePhones.aspx

Related posts:

1. Smoking in Cars

2007

• South Australia – smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers came into effect on May 31, 2007

2008

• Tasmania – smoking in cars where children under the age of 18 are passengers came into effect on January 2008
• New South Wales – Legislation to ban smoking in cars where children are passengers is in progress. The Age 2008

2009

• Western Australia – smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers came into effect on 22nd September 2009

2010

• Victoria – The Tobacco Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2009 will make cars carrying children under 18 smokefree came into effect on 1st January 2010.
• Queensland – smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers came into effect on 1st January 2010.

Queensland

1st January 2010

A ban on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers will come into effect in Queensland from the 1st January 2010.

The new laws will carry a penalty of $200.

People who smoke in cars with children on board will face tough new fines from New Year’s Day Acting Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas said today.

As of January 1, 2010 it will be illegal to smoke in a car with a child under 16 on board, and people who don’t comply face a hefty fine,” Mr Lucas said.

“As children many of us endured a car trip with an adult who smoked but now those days are gone.

“There is a much greater awareness about the effects of passive smoking these days and a car is a very confined space.

“Unlike adults, children don’t have the authority or the choice to remove themselves from the situation.

“So, any parent or adult who believes children should have to breathe their second hand smoke will be fined.

From New Year’s Day police will have the power to issue on the spot fines of $200 in the same way fines are issued to people who talk on their mobile phone while driving.

Mr Lucas said the new law was one of a raft of tough smoking laws introduced by the Bligh Government.

• http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=68042

South Australia
May 31st 2007
A ban on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers will come into effect in South Australia from May 31, 2007 following legislation passed in the House of Assembly in March 2007.

• http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=1418

Western Australia

Private Members Bill introduced on 26th November 2008 by Dr Janet Woollard, to prohibit smoking in cars if a young person (as defined in the principal Act) is present.

This Act came into operation on Royal Assent on 22nd September 2009 as Act No. 22 of 2009.
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/web/newwebparl.nsf/iframewebpages/Bills+-+Private+Members

New South Wales
February 29, 2008

Under new laws to be introduced in NSW, parents who smoke while their children are in the car could face a $250 fine.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/no-butts-in-the-family-car-new-smoking-ban-in-nsw/2008/02/28/1203788539270.html

No related posts.

Some Broadband ISP’s do utilise the Telstra ADSL2+ equipment in various telephone exchanges around the country, and are therefore able to offer ADSL2+, without having to install their own equipment.

Not all telephone exchanges around the country have extra space to allow independent ISP’s to install their own DLAMS, therefore causing the inability of those ISP’s to offer ADSL2+ to their customers.

The following Broadband ISPs are shown to be using Telstra ADSL2+ DSLAMs. This means that they should be able to offer ADSL2+ service in almost allocations.

Ace Internet Services
ASKOM
AuNix
Beagle Internet
Broadband Solutions
Bushtech Internet
Comcen Internet
Connexus
CyberOne
EscapeNet
gotalk
Grapevine
HugoNet
IF Telecom
Internode
iPrimus
iSage Internet
Locall Australis
Montimedia
OntheNet
Pacnet
People Telecom
Spacelink
Spidertel
Spin Internet
Telaustralia
Telcogreen
Telcotalk
Telstra BigPond
Vintek
Westnet

Related posts:

1. Internet

It is often said, by many people, that Internet speeds in Australia are not as fast as some other countries, and very few options are available for unlimited downloads.

However, this is not born out by the figures issued by ZDNet, one of the main Internet speed testing websites in Australia.

ZDNet ranks Australia in position 29 in the world, out of 193 countries, with an average Internet speed of 4,767kbps.
This compares to the United Kingdom in position 35 with an average speed of 4,436kbps.
In reality, both these countries end up looking very much the same.

These figures were based on the average of 215,408 tests in Australia and 331,981 tests in the United Kingdom.
Latest results can be checked at: http://www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/results.htm?show=all

Korea comes in top spot with its 23,546kbps speed.

The future of the Australian Internet

The current Australian government has a plan to introduce a new National Broadband Network (NBN) capable of delivering internet speeds beyond 100Mbps to 90 per cent of the nation, at a cost of about $43 billion.

The current Australian Internet pricing

Telstra is the main wholesaler for most Internet options, but many other suppliers offer better pricing.

As an example of pricing, my provider, aanet, currently offers the following ADSL2+ plan for $39.95 per month (Dec 2009): Speed 24.576 MBs with 75 GB download limit, and an extra 75 GB off peak download limit (Overlimits are charged at $1 per GB)

Internet Providers in Australia include the following;

• 3Mobile – www.three.com.au
• aaNet – www.aanet.com.au Promotion Code: AANET893
• Dodo – www.dodo.com.au
• EFTel – w3.eftel.com
• Engine – www.engin.com.au $50 credit* with referral code: 90025978
• iiNet – www.iinet.net.au
• Internode – www.internode.on.net
• Netspace – www.netspace.net.au
• Spin Internet- www.spin.net.au
• SuperNerd – www.supernerd.com.au
• Telstra Bigpond – www.bigpond.com
• TPG – www.tpg.com.au
• Westnet – www.westnet.com.au

How to find a suitable broadband plan in Australia

Whirlpool have an excellent system to search for the best Internet options in Australia at their website: http://bc.whirlpool.net.au.  You enter the details of the service you require and you get a list of the providers  and prices of the ISP Plans best suited to your needs.

The controversial Australian Internet filter

Australia is going ahead with plans to introduce the Internet filter, that has been discussed for some time.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the new laws would be introduced to ban access to “refused classification” (RC) sites featuring criminal content such as child sex abuse, bestiality, rape and detailed drug use.
Many opponents of this filter are using the term “nocleanfeed” in their opposition, and are concerned about other material also being blocked.

The Australian Sex Party said that blocking RC websites would cut off access to 95 per cent of the world’s 4 million adult websites.

December 2009

An ABC article on this, dubbed the “Great Firewall of Australia”  is at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/15/2772781.htm
A BBC article is at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8413377.stm

Unlimited Internet in Australia

As at December 2009, at least one ISP is being shown on the Whirlpool.net.au list of ISP’s, offering 100% unlimited downloads, but only for their 1512k plan.  The cost is shown at $99.95 per month.

Speed Test for your Internet connection:

• http://www.zdnet.com.au/broadband/speedtest.htm

* Referral credits are subject to conditions.

Related posts:

1. ADSL2+ Internet in Australia

A cheap way of using a home or business phone system, using your ADSL or Cable internet connection.

Some VoIP services, normally the free ones, use your computer to call another persons computer, and this means that both parties must be sitting at the computer at the same time.

Others are able to use your computer to call landlines anywhere else in the world. Only you need to sit at the computer for this one.

The more popular VOIP systems involve using your broadband connection to connect a telephone in your property to call landlines anywhere else in the world. Neither parties computers need to be on for this system to work, as calls are passed via your Internet Modem directly to the regular phone networks.

Examples of popular VOIP services in Australia

Engin offer a range of VOIP packages including one with Free calls all over Australia and to the United Kingdom, United States and various other countries for only $20 per month. Special bonus may be available for new signups; use promo code 90025978 if you are asked for one.

MyNetFone have VOIP plans starting from Free, although with no included free calls

No related posts.

• Telstra The Main Australian household phone provider
• Optus A Major Australian household phone provider
• AAPT A Major Australian household phone provider

No related posts.

• Most house rentals in Australia are Unfurnished.
• Council rates are included in the rent charged.
• Water usage is sometimes included, but sometimes charged extra.
• Not all Landlords will allow Pets.
• Some States allow Landlords to charge a deposit for Pets, where Pets are actually permitted.
• Leases are normally from 6 months upwards, but often a 1 year tenancy is
  required.

Rental Terms and Conditions
Long Term Unfurnished Rental Properties are normally available for longer stays of 6 months upwards, although sometimes a 1 year tenancy is required.

These are cheaper than the Furnished rentals but do require that longer commitment.

Many Real Estate Agents will have a list of currently available properties on their books, but you can also look online at a couple of National databases of properties being advertised for rent.

Most Rentals will have cooking facilities built in, and some of the newer ones have dishwashers, but this is not fully standard.

Rarely will you get one with a washing machine. Tenants are normally only responsible for the following costs:

• Initial Rental Bond, Rent, Electricity & Gas (if applicable), Water usage
  excess charges, Telephone charges, Personal Contents Insurance and any damage to the property cause by the Tenant or Tenants guests.

The Landlord normally pays:

• Council rates, Water Access Costs, Property repairs, Property Insurance

The following costs can be paid by either, depending on the agreement:

• Swimming Pool Maintenance, Garden Upkeep, mowing etc., Pest Control.

Rental Bonds

You will generally need to put down a rental bond, equivalent to about 4 (or more) weeks rent, which the landlord deposits with a Rental Bond Agency in the State that the property is in.

The Bond is a guarantee to the landlord against any unpaid costs that the tenants may still owe when they vacate the property.

It is returnable to the Tenant when they move out from the property.

The amount returned will depend on the condition of the property when handed back to the landlord.

Some Examples of the ‘cheaper’ suburbs in Australia for Rental properties in Dec 2008

• Brisbane: $203 pw Russel Island
• Sydney: $200 pw Carramar
• Canberra: $350 pw Holder
• Melbourne: $185 pw Millgrove
• Adelaide: $195 pw Elizabeth
• Perth: $240 pw Hillman
• Darwin: $350 pw Moulden

Some median rents for 4 Bedroom Houses in the Brisbane area in March 2009

• $450 Brisbane (Dec 08 = $420)
• $450 Bayside (Dec 08 = $450)
• $550 City Inner (Dec 08 = $560)
• $595 North – Inner (Dec 08 = $560)
• $410 North – Outer (Dec 08 = $400)
• $520 North West – Inner (Dec 08 = $580)
• $450 North West – Outer (Dec 08 = $450)
• $450 South – Inner (Dec 08 = $430)
• $400 South – Outer (Dec 08 = $400)
• $530 South East – Inner (Dec 08 = $545)
• $460 South East – Outer (Dec 08 = $450)
• $530 South West – Inner (Dec 08 = $500)
• $410 South West – Outer (Dec 08 = $400)

Some High priced rental areas in Brisbane
Dec 2008

• $750 New Farm/Teneriffe
• $625 Ballymore/Ithaca/Kelvin Grove/Red Hill
• $500 The Gap
• $750 Balmoral/Bulimba/Hawthorne
• $530 Seventeen Mile Rocks/Sinnamon ParkMarch 2009
• $550 New Farm/Teneriffe
• $520 Ballymore/Ithaca/Kelvin Grove/Red Hill
• $480 The Gap
• $710 Balmoral/Bulimba/Hawthorne
• $510 Seventeen Mile Rocks/Sinnamon Park

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does an Australian Tenant have to pay rates ? 
  A: Australian Tenants do NOT pay rates, these are the responsibility of the Landlord.
• What is a Rental Bond ? 
  A: A Rental Bond is a deposit, normally equal to 4 weeks rent, that is often held by a government department and refunded to the Tenant after the tenancy expires. In the event of damage caused by the Tenant, then the Landlord can apply for this bond to be used for repairs, instead of being refunded to the Tenant.

Links

• QLD Median Weekly Rents

Australian Tenants Rights Information

• ACT –  Tenants Advice Service, Havelock House, Gould Street, Turner.  Tel Enquiries: (02) 6247 2011 (9.30am – 1.00pm)
• ACT - www.tenantsact.org.au – Tenants Union of ACT
• NSW - NSW Office of Fair Trading, 1 Fitzwilliam Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia, Tel: (02) 9895 0111, Fax: (02) 9895 0222
• NT - Consumer and Business Affairs – Tenancy Unit Tel: (08) 8999 1999, Toll Free: 1800 019 319, Fax: (08) 8999 6260
• QLD –  Residential Tenancies Authority Tel: 1300 366 311, Fax (07) 3361 3666, International calls +61 7 3013 7400
• QLD – Tenants’ Union of Queensland Tel: 07 3257 1108, Toll Free: 1800 177 761,
• SA –  Office of Consumer and Business Affairs, Level 1, 91-97 Grenfell Street, ADELAIDE SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8204 9544, Fax (08) 8204 9570
• TAS – Tenants’ Union of Tasmania, Macquarie Street, Hobart 7000 Tel: 6223 2641 Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4pm
• VIC –  Tenants Union of Victoria, PO Box 234, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia Tel: (03) 9416 2577, Fax (03) 9416 0513
• WA – Tenants Advice Service, PO Box 8437, Perth Business Centre, PERTH W.A. 6849 Tel: (08) 9221 9499, Fax : (08) 9221 9609

Related posts:

1. Short Term Furnished Accommodation in Australia
2. Buying a House in Australia
3. Property Renting in Australia