Yuyutsu,
Are you aware that Australia is giving 1.5 million Dollars/day to PNG since they became "independent" in 1975 thank to a lot of input from that Goaf !
Yes, it was a Labor Govt that created the border issues that involved traditional visiting by PNG people to Torres Strait Islands. I have seen it with my own eyes when dinghy loads went straight past the Australian Customs vessel & some people jumped straight onto the direct flight to Cairns. This has been curbed somewhat in the past few years since direct flights to Cairns are rare now. But, that still enables some to fly via Horn Island.

Two days away and even this morning an internal war is taking the wind out of scomos sails
Barnaby, [he will not win back the leadership] warns of an end to? the coalition
Not ever going to understand why some, on both sides, let blind rage turn them into an asset for the other side during a campaign
But it happens
Paul booth captain this one, voted already and you got my preferences
That will upset most here but vote with intent not with bias,it is best outcome rather than the lost right has on offer

Hi Belly, I had the daughter-in-law asking me about the 5% deposit scheme. I explained to her that there are a few things she needed to know. Firstly there is no free 15% money, on a $600K house with $30k deposit and a $570k mortgage (as opposed to a $480k mortgage when you have the full 20% or $120k deposit). Over 20 years the repayments are going to be about $400/month higher at the 5% deposit, probably more as the interest rate will be 0.2 or 0.3% high, due to greater risk for the lender, and no flexibility on interest rate for the buyer. Increase in interest rates over time, will impact more on the higher mortgage, buyer equity should the need to sell arise is a problem. Plus they are only offering 10,000 such guarantees when there are so many in this deposit/affordability first home buyer dilemma. My advice keep saving.

My advice keep saving.
Paul1405,
I'm thinking even further & my advise is to live within your means !

Dear Individual,

Thank you for the information, I was not aware of it.

As I understand, Australia is giving money to PNG and other islands in order to prevent them from selling off to China instead, so this is essentially a defence measure to keep the Chinese navy as far as possible from our shores. How effective this is I am not sure - I think that the most effective way to defend Australia and its long shores from Chinese invasion is to develop our own nuclear and biological weapons.

If the Chinese wanted to invade Australia all they'd need to do is send shiploads of people, we'd then go poor feeding and housing them and would have to ask for aid to continue to do so.

Aid would only be forthcoming from China.

End of story.