Just found out that Australia has become a joke.

Discussion in 'Current Events' started by Serbkiller, Aug 25, 2009.

  1. Serbkiller Destiny Islands Resident

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    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...00-a-day-begging/story-e6frewt0-1225765125138

    This guy is homeless and makes $50 000 a year to pay for his friend's bills, wouldn't you think his friend would let him in? The guy sure has a big heart...
     
  2. Johnny Stooge Traverse Town Homebody

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    so what exactly are you getting at?
     
  3. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    ...if he makes $50000 a year just by sitting on his ass in the street, he can easily buy a house and get a job.
     
  4. Johnny Stooge Traverse Town Homebody

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    pfft. not in sydney.
     
  5. Catch the Rain As the world falls down ♥

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    Maybe I am missing something but why does this make Australia a joke?

    Begging and homelessness (is that a real word?) happens in every single city in the workd just about.

    He makes $50,000 a year, it would take me about 10 years to earn that much since I get on average about £6000 a year. I am not even going to pretend I know what that exchanges at.

    At the end of the day he CHOOSES how he uses that money, he doesn't have to be on the streets, he could easily afford to live somewhere. Yes it is great that he pays for his friend's bills and that he is raising money for his friend's liver transplant, but nobody forced him onto the streets.

    Also, in the UK you can't have a bank account unless you have an address, so how does he have a bank account if he is sleeping rough? Does it work differently there?
     
  6. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    Nothing stopping him from going to another town or city.
     
  7. Catch the Rain As the world falls down ♥

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    Except that in another town or another city he might not be able to earn quite so much.

    He could always rent somewhere small? I don't know what the property market is like in Australia, but it seems a bit extreme to ship him off to another city/town. Moving can cost a hell of a lot.
     
  8. Johnny Stooge Traverse Town Homebody

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    uhh, transport costs.

    it says he earns somewhere around $50 000 pa. it doesn't say how much he has saved in the bank account. he doesn't have a regular disposeable income, he can't commit to anything.
     
  9. Cleopatra King's Apprentice

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    Aussie right here now.

    Sydney is probably one of the most expensive cities in Australia. There are over 4 million people in Sydney.

    If the homeless want to live on the streets they can, especially if they make $50, 000. They could stop this habit and get a job, rent or buy a property and live a life. I went to Sydney last year & I'm leaving on Friday again. Let me tell you, Australia cares, that's why they might give out fines. We have welfare here, and there are shelters. Sure, they could be packed at times, but there are others. No need to turn to the streets.

    If you ever checked how much a Sydney house cost compared to another city, the difference is amazing & quite shocking. A million dollar house in Sydney (Aust. dollars) would cost around half that much, give or take a little in another city like Adelaide or Perth. Because Sydney is so well known its why it attracts the homeless. They know they'll get big bucks in Sydney, maybe not enough to buy or rent a house. I agree with CtR on the moving expenses, it actually does cost a bit to move cities, especially in a country this big.

    But this man, this 'homeless' man he should actually get a job, buy a house and live a better life.

    How does this make us a joke? B( This is not Australia's fault.
     
  10. Johnny Stooge Traverse Town Homebody

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    To get a job, he needs to be presentable. Reliable. He probably has no qualifications, so he'd be looking at bare minimum wage to begin with. That's around $30 000 a year.

    To get a house, he'd need a loan. To get a loan, they say you need to earn $100 000 a year (usually a combined income).

    To be presentable, he'd need clothes and access to facilities which would mean he'd need a house.

    He could rent, but in Sydney, rent probably costs anywhere from $300 to $700 per week. I doubt he'd make anywhere near enough to support himself.

    It's a vicious cycle unless he gets third party help.
     
  11. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    Costs? He's 52 and he earns 50,000 a year. If we assume he's been doing it for say, 25 years. Thats $1250000. Which is a lot of money. More than enough to move somewhere cheaper and live quite comfortably for a while, rubbish job or no. My parents only have about £5000 in the bank and we manage just fine. No reason for us to move on the streets.
     
  12. Enigmatic Boy Twilight Town Denizen

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    Yeah, first, I'm a Australian too (though I don't love this country as nearly as I should), but I don't live in Sydney. I personally don't see whats wrong with Australia for living off donations and earning so much by begging. In India, (yes I am Indian, but I live in Australia) I knew of a few beggars who were literally millionaires , due to their begging (although I don't know what the exchange rates were back then). However, unlike this guy, they begged solely for their own needs, unlike this guy who at least gives his money to his friend with the liver problem.

    So yeah, I see where you're coming from, but I don't understand how it makes Australia a joke.
     
  13. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    A liver transplant is a one time cost. I just don't think its right for people to beg when they can easily work.

    Although I do agree that it doesn't make Australia a joke, just the individual.
     
  14. childofturin Why?

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    There is a prolonged hospital stay along with it, and while I don't know the rates in Sydney, judging by what others have said, they must be pretty damn high.
     
  15. Cleopatra King's Apprentice

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    Life sucks, then you die.

    But- there is third part help that he could get. It's called Centre Link or something like that. He could get a part-time job until he earns enough money. Rent is an option. Suburbs where it isn't too expensive. It's not all one price.
     
  16. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    Hmm. Even so, something tells me its within his budget of $1250000 plus
     
  17. T3F Chaser

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    *ahem* >lives in sydney!<

    So basically he can rent something, seriously. He has enough o rent a nice house, they're usually about $1000 a week<<Those being the nicer houses.

    But I still don't see how this makes us a joke?
     
  18. Cleopatra King's Apprentice

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    I didn't forget about you >:3

    Houses are expensive in Sydney. But I guess its half because of the Harbour Bridge/Opera House + major tourist spot. I guess he rather be a professional begger and live on the streets instead of a roof on top of his head.

    Once again, how does it make us a joke? B(
     
  19. Johnny Stooge Traverse Town Homebody

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    you're all idiots.

    it quite clearly says in the article that he spends money on food and pays his friends bills.
    obviously he's spending this money or else he'd be dead.

    Centrelink does not offer that much money. I'm on Youth Allowance and I get $200 a fortnight.

    because a homeless and jobless man could afford $1000 a week let alone $300.
    christ, people.
     
  20. Ŧiмє Яǽрεѓ King's Apprentice

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    My parents only earn about £30000 but we have more food than we know what to do with. He 'earns' $50000. And no one is making him pay his friends bills, he can stop if he likes and get his own place. He has more than enough money for that rent.