The Native Iowan

Why Invest in Australia? India may Offer better ROI…

I “retired” to Australia in 2010. I had enough money behind me to technically “buy” residence in Aus. It wasn’t a nefarious thing, it was business. I pass the tests, jump through hoops, bring my $$ into Aus and I get to stay. Fair deal it was.

I came to Aus under a Subclass 405 Investor Retirement Visa. This Visa required me to a) deposit 500k with the QLD Treasury as a good behaviour bond, and b) start a business and pay taxes.

After years of jumping through hoops , playing the game, paying my taxes, I was granted Australian Citizenship.

Something I cherish greatly.

Things in 2010 were much different. It was post Global Financial Collapse. The economy, here in Aus (and worldwide) was stagnant. I bought my first property on the Sunny Coast in May 2010. I paid 490k for a nice, new house in a quiet suburb. This property had sat empty, unsold for 2years. No buyers, no banks loaning, it was a slow, economically sleepy time.

When I retired to Aus I was liquid. I had cash. So I bought land. I have never been a fan of banks. Bricks n mortar, bricks and mortar. In 2010 land was available. I bought quite a bit.

For 15years I have been an investor, a property developer. A business developer.

In my 15 years of active business in Aus I have found that the playing field has changed too much. Originally a reasonably level playing field, reasonably user friendly, not too expensive to get things done… recent changes across the board have made it almost impossible to invest in the Land of Aus…

In my 15 years I have bought and developed properties, developed properties from fallow-ground to residential lots.

Each project costing more money and taking more time. Returning less on investment.

One property/ business development project is licenced to produce Medical Cannabis. A project started in 2020, I have been unable to bring this facility to fruition because of the changing tides of Gov Regs.

Potentially producing over 24million in sales annually, and employing over 50 skilled workers, my project is stalled.

The bitter truth I have come to accept is this: Nothing in Australia can be produced competitive to items being produced off-shore. Sure I can produce medical cannabis, but I’m lucky if I’ll break-even under the current rules. Imports simply are much cheaper.

I’ve invested big dollars to establish this opportunity/ business. I bought land, developed the project, acquired the federal licence and local approvals, engineered the facility, prepared the site, to no avail. After big$$ invested I need to drop another several-million before I am in production. And it simply does not numerically stack up. Cost of Doing Business is too high… cost of power, cost of labour, cost of compliance, cost of insurance, cost of not knowing what the next big kick in the arse from the Gov will be.

I am a proud Australian. I have spent my personal wealth “investing” in Australia. I’m not unhappy. I feel lucky, Australia is an amazing place… but it is sad.

I don’t think Aus represents a wise investment, right now.

I’ve been in business, developing businesses for over 40years.

Creating wealth only to have it stolen by a feckless GOV is not “good business”.