Haigh Wanted Down Under

Welcome to Wanted Down Under, the show that catapults

a British family right across

to the other side of the world to help them

make the biggest decision of their life -

whether to stay in the UK or to move to Australia.

Kerry Haigh has always dreamt of moving to Australia.

This is the exit - this is where we've got to be.

But husband Paul is not convinced.

If you can't afford to live somewhere, no point going there.

If he turned around and said no,

then I think there would definitely be problems.

The whole family is in turmoil as the pressure mounts to come to a final decision.

Could this trip tear them apart?

I really want to go home.

There's recently been a 20% increase in families seeking jobs in Australia.

With its warm climate and promise of work, it's a very attractive option.

If you're on the skilled occupation list,

you and your family could obtain a visa and try for a better life Down Under.

We've given another British family the opportunity

to spend a week Down Under, to see if it's all they dreamt it would be.

After that, they'll have to make a decision, one way or the other -

to stay in the UK or to move to Australia.

Paul and Kerry Haigh live in Plymouth with their three children,

Phoebe, 13, Annie, 11, and Max, who's six.

Paul's a home bird and loves the area, but wife Kerry has been desperate for a change all her life.

Ever since I've been 13, we were all going to emigrate as a family, but it just never happened.

It's been in me ever since then, since age 13.

I've never been, but I know I will love it.

Kerry doesn't just want to move - she's obsessed.

This is beyond passion, beyond desire.

I would live in a tent...on stilts, obviously.

But to get there, yeah, I would sell and do... I would just go.

Just go, yeah. I want it so bad.

So bad that I wouldn't worry about leaving anything behind.

Kerry's already got her kids onside.

I so want to leave England.

-I will pack my bags now and go.

-Yes.

But she's yet to persuade her husband, Paul. As a builder, he's the one

who could apply for a visa, and he's not at all convinced.

It's been one of these things that Kerry's wanted to do for years.

I've always said, "Why do you want to move away? Why do you want to leave here?

"You've got everything that you want."

Obviously, she keeps on coming back with,

"Don't you want to better yourself?"

Well, everybody wants to better themselves, but is there a limit?

Paul has built up a successful business with his partner, Matt,

and after 20 years, he's used to working for himself.

If he moved to Australia, he'd have to start by working for someone else.

Obviously, being my own boss, working for somebody would definitely be a shock.

The honest answer to, "Do I want to go?"

Er...I would say yes, but that's a very...

you know, faint one at this present moment.

Paul is the only one who could put a stop to Kerry's dreams.

The only fear I have is if we go and I love it and Paul hates it.

If he turned over that England card and I was on the Australia card, I think I'd be gutted.

Paul knows only too well that Kerry can be very persuasive.

If she gets something in her head, you just can't shift it.

She will not shut up until she gets what she wants.

Whether that's like all women, I don't know,

-but it's definitely with...

-It's passion, isn't it? It's not...

-It...

-It's wanting something.

I really want something, and I don't ask for a lot.

No, but what you do ask for is a lot.

If this doesn't go according to plan, Paul could be in for a tough time.

It would be really hard if he didn't want to go. It would not be an easy life for him.

To give them a chance to see the best Australia has to offer,

we are sending the Haighs to the tropical paradise of Cairns.

It's a small but growing town and a popular base from which to explore the far north of Queensland.

The beaches and Barrier Reef are the main reasons to come here,

and the temperature only drops to the mid-20s in winter, which could help Kerry to persuade Paul to move.

With their budget of £250,000 they should find plenty on offer.

We've found three possible lifestyles for our family,

each one offering a brand-new way of life for them to try on their budget,

but which one will be the most suitable?

There's a lot of construction work in the city,

so it would be a great place for Paul as a builder.

He may be able to earn a salary of up to £40,000.

That's £5,000 more than he gets in the UK.

Cairns has a purpose-built lagoon and, with three children,

the Haighs would love soaking up the family-friendly atmosphere.

Four-bed, inner-city apartments can cost around £400,000, so it would be way too pricey for the Haighs,

but if they move outside the city centre,

they could snap up a spacious home for their £250,000 budget.

So very different from their life in the UK, but what about the second option?

A short drive into the hills takes you

to the beautiful rainforest, and you can find some unique properties.

An average four-bedroom house

could cost £300,000, so a little bit over budget.

There are plenty of new developments out of town, so Paul should find work,

but he'd have to drive further to get there.

That all looks very inviting, but what about the third option?

The third option is the coast.

Queensland's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world,

but beware of swimming - they are home

to jellyfish and the occasional crocodile.

Properties within walking distance of the beach are still affordable.

You can pick up a four-bedroomed home for £250,000,

but if you want that dream house, you'll have to spend at least £300,000,

and this might be beyond the Haighs' means.

Because of the booming tourist trade, there's work here for Paul, but to earn more than in the UK,

he'd have to make the half-hour commute into Cairns.

Three very different options there, all of them life changing.

So where did we decide to send our family?

We decided the coastal option would be best for the Haigh family.

With its long stretch of beaches for the kids to play on

and the affordable housing, it should give them the dream lifestyle they're after.

We've arranged some properties for them to see...

It's like a holiday home, but it will actually be a home.

..and a job for Paul to try.

-If you want to plumb those marks down.

-Yeah, no worries.

We've given them a taste of Australian life.

No, I don't want to hold it.

So will a week Down Under unite the family or tear them apart?

Even though I know a few good solicitors, I think this will be one battle I won't win.

It's time for the Haighs to take the plunge.

After three flights and a total of 30 hours' travelling, the Haighs touch down in Cairns at midday.

It's a long way from home, and the children are already feeling the effects of the flight.

I didn't sleep that much. I got about five hours.

Considering I'm meant to have 12, that's not so good.

I know one thing that I will do this week - sleep!

-One thing!

-You don't realise exactly how long it is.

You think you can prepare yourself for the flight, but it is a long flight, and...oh!

This trip is the culmination of years of discussions in the Haigh household.

It's been rows, really. Um...

There have been some real humdingers, yeah,

because I'm gung-ho for it - I'm the one that's really for it -

and Paul is a little bit negative with the potential move.

For Paul, it's all about finding work in challenging economic conditions.

Everybody's having problems.

It's whether this country is going to be the same.

If we can't put food on the table, there's no point moving anywhere.

Paul would be about 70% on moving, at the minute.

Hopefully, we'll get him a bit higher.

But I would say about 70%. Paul, would you say you're about 70% on the move?

Maybe...maybe a fraction less.

-Eh? When did that happen?

-No, I'm truthful, coming out.

But this week might change, mightn't it?

INAUDIBLE

This is going to be a different programme, isn't it?

This is Divorce Down Under.

Kerry might find it funny now, but for some it's no laughing matter.

Moving abroad can put tremendous strains on marriages.

Around 1,000 immigrant couples from the UK divorce each year in Australia.

Let's hope they can put their differences aside as they discover what Cairns can offer them.

They're going to be staying in Palm Beach, a smart residential suburb 20 minutes north of Cairns.

Just five minutes' walk to the beach, their rental accommodation is a three-bedroom house with a pool.

It's a far cry from their semi in Plymouth.

Let's hope Paul and Kerry agree on this, at least.

The girls even have their own en suite bathroom.

Beautiful.

What do you think of this? Got your pool, Max.

Shall we chuck you in?

Shall we take you in now?

-I think it's going to be quite deep down that end.

-It looks deep, doesn't it?

I like this room. I think I'm going to be having this room.

-Oh, my gosh, it's got a balcony...

-Oh, a walk-in wardrobe!

-..and a walk-in wardrobe.

-Oh, great!

-Now, that is what...

-This is great!

That's what every girl wants, and I've got it.

I could see myself living here. That's what I'm thinking.

I could see myself living in a home like this.

It looks like the kids are already sold, but upstairs, Kerry wastes no time in trying to convince Paul

of the merits of an Australian lifestyle.

You know, it's not going to work that way.

You have to try other options.

England is not a place, I don't feel, that can offer us as a family what we would want.

So hence coming over here to have a look, because here, this CAN offer us what we want.

There's no point in lying.

I've got to look at the bigger picture instead of looking at the smaller picture. Um...

The prospects of work has got to be here for me to think about it.

It would be brilliant if somebody could say, "There you go, I can give you two years' work."

Nobody is going to guarantee you a job for so many years.

It's something you've got to build yourself, something you've got to do, or us as a family has got to do.

You've got to look and look long term, not short term.

The last thing I want to do, obviously, is upset her,

cos she's built a lot up on this at the moment.

She does like to get her own way,

and she will go on and on until she really gets her own way.

Most times I do, I suppose, cave in a little bit,

but I look at it as like the little things.

This is not a little thing.

This is a major thing.

This is a life-changing thing for the whole family.

So I'm not just going to do it on a whim.

# What the world needs now

# Is love, sweet love... #

Kerry's still got a lot of persuading to do if Paul's going to change his mind.

Back in Plymouth, the Haighs live in a four-bedroom, semi-detached house in the suburb of Plympton.

They've lived there all their lives, but Kerry wants to move on.

Down Under, she would like a house with at least four bedrooms and a garden with a pool.

The northern suburbs of Cairns

should give them plenty of options to get something nice within their budget of £250,000,

though this could be more, depending on Paul's work.

The first property is on the market for around £195,000.

The Haighs could probably afford this without a mortgage, but is it what they're looking for?

Estate agent Luke is keen to show it off.

-This is a lovely four-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

-Lovely.

It's on 800 square metres of land, two streets back from the beach.

-So, please, have a good look around.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

It doesn't seem to impress.

Nice open living.

It's quite a small area - living area.

I expected a bit larger living area, I must admit.

Go and have a nose at the kitchen.

The kitchen's very tiny, I think. About the same size...well, smaller than the one I've got at home.

Um...but I suppose it's usable.

-It's...

-You'd have to take it out and start again.

-Yeah, put a new one in.

Again, quite small. Everybody is very close together in this house.

-With three children...

-You don't want to be close together.

You want a bit of area so the children can basically get out of your hair.

There!

Yeah, right.

The children have their own views.

It's a little plain.

-I don't really like it.

-It's sort of...crisp.

It's OK for a room, but it's just...

-I just wouldn't find it very nice.

-Mmm.

I think it's...

quite not good! GIRLS LAUGH

Paul's not impressed with the building quality, either.

-It's quite small.

-There's still a lot of work to be done inside.

Back at home, this would be, er... an unfinished building.

That's coming off. This corner here,

that's a weak spot.

So that there would have to be taken right off again and done again.

It's too small, so, no, I can't imagine something like this for a family home for us. No, not at all.

You can see that they've spent money on the outside,

and the inside, obviously, that's a project which they didn't get round to.

This house has done nothing to persuade Paul of a better life Down Under.

Let's see if property two can make him think differently.

This house offers much more salubrious living,

but you'll have to pay a bit more for a quality finish like this.

It's on the market

for around £220,000, and well within budget.

-This is a three-bedroom plus study. Two bathrooms, in-ground pool.

-Shall we go and have a look?

-Have a look around.

-Thanks very much.

-Come on, children.

This is beautiful.

-This is beautiful, isn't it?

-Much better kitchen.

But this is what you expect.

-Mm-hm.

-This is what you expect from...

-I can just see you there.

-Yeah, so could I.

Max, don't turn that on, darling.

This is lovely. Big. You've got your dining room table,

-you've got everything here.

-Yeah.

-Everything, haven't you?

EVERYONE LAUGHS

This is a lovely room. Very, very airy,

and light and lovely - lovely sized room.

The bathroom is far, far better.

-That is better.

-This is lovely.

That's lovely, isn't it?

-MAX:

-How do you get in?

-It's more of a plunge pool.

-Yes.

-It's a cooling down pool.

I'm sure it would keep the kids entertained.

I just think it's amazing.

It's got everything. It's got the pool, which is one main thing.

It's got a lovely garden area.

It's like a holiday home, but it will actually be a home.

This, to us, is what we would imagine as living in Australia. Definitely. This is the open -

the garden, the pool. If you had to draw a picture of an Australian home, this is what you'd draw.

The only drawback with this house is the amount of bedrooms.

It has only got three bedrooms, or four if you included the study.

If we had family over, we would perhaps want an extra bedroom.

They seem impressed, but in an ideal world, they'd have just a bit more space.

Property three could give them just that.

At around £320,000,

this four-bedroom house is over their budget,

but it might just have everything they want.

So this is the most expensive property,

purely because it is on the biggest parcel of land and you are literally three minutes' walk to the beach.

-Have a good look around.

-OK.

-Thanks a lot.

-Big kitchen.

-Oh, look at this!

This is beautiful.

That's a bigger kitchen, isn't it?

This is lovely. Oh, look. There you go.

Then you've got that bit there.

-Gosh!

-Yeah.

-This is nice.

This could be your guest room, couldn't it?

Look, doors going out into the garden.

-You can see where the extra value is, as far as the size of the property is concerned, can't you?

-Yeah.

Oh, that's beautiful!

This is beautiful.

Absolutely gorgeous.

This is definitely the cream of the cream. This is the best.

All very professionally done.

THEY LAUGH

Go on, Annie, try and get in again.

CHILDREN LAUGH

See, you couldn't have anything like this in England.

It would just be destroyed, with the weather and everything else.

You just couldn't have it. And this is just so lovely.

There's no way you could buy a property of this size, this scale, this quality,

in England.

There's no way. It would be millions.

Do you know what I mean? We'd have the Beckhams round for tea if we lived somewhere like this in England.

Kerry's discovered her dream home and thinks they could make it work.

I don't think it's an unliveable dream.

I think it could be done, definitely.

But Paul's not convinced it's financially viable.

There's no way that I want to move in to a property like this

and then find out that the kids will suffer and we have to struggle.

Hmm, I disagree. I think if you want something good, you've got to work for it.

So, no, I don't agree.

I think start high and you'll be always there.

But you have to make sure you can afford to pay for it.

This would make sure that you'd get a good job, then, wouldn't it?

-This is lovely.

-This is going to be an ongoing conversation.

-I think you'll be putting an offer in.

I do. Kids, do you want to stay here?

-ALL:

-Yeah.

-Sold.

Something tells me Kerry's not going to take no for an answer.

The Haigh family have seen three very different homes.

Property one was well below budget, but didn't impress.

They felt it had small rooms and an average finish.

Property two was bang on the money and had the finish they were looking for, but it only had three bedrooms.

Property three ticked all the boxes but was over budget.

It would be a financial stretch, something Paul would want to avoid.

So will they vote for properties in the UK or Australia?

After looking at the three properties today, we are going to vote for...

Australia.

But for both Kerry and Paul, life is more complicated than the turn of a card.

It's just everything I've dreamt of, which is quite sad, really,

because it's going to make his life hell now - he did in one way hope that I wasn't going to like it.

But it's just confirmed all my dreams now, even worse. It's really bad.

Kerry would expect to move straight over to here,

to have, basically, the all-singing and all-dancing house. Um...

Whether that's possible, I don't know.

I'm not happy in England. I haven't been happy in England for a long, long time.

I've wanted to get out for a long time now.

This, to me, is the exit. This is it. This is where we've got to be.

The feel for the place is, er... really good,

but if you can't afford to live somewhere, no point going there.

If he turned around and said no,

then I think there would definitely be problems.

Well, put it this way - I think the dog would be up in the pecking order higher than me!

And that ain't a good thing.

I need an answer - yes or no - so I can work on what decision he makes,

and then I can see where I go with that decision, and the children, obviously.

We'll just have to wait and see.

-Carry on going straight.

-Max, that's Palm Cove. That's where we're staying.

-Can't we walk there?

-Yeah, we've got to walk towards that.

-You can walk over to Palm Cove.

-Someone's ran all the way up to that...

-Yeah.

-Especially up through there.

-How do you know that?

-Because I saw him.

-Did you?

-You saw him? All right.

-All the way from up there...

-Yeah?

-..and then down...

The Haighs loved the houses they've seen, but would they have the money to pay for one?

Kerry's dreams rest on whether Paul can find work in Australia.

Back in the UK, Paul earns around £35,000 as a builder

and has built up a successful partnership.

In Australia, he would need to start from scratch.

To find out about the prospects of work, we've arranged a trial day with local builder Shane Turner.

Paul's really anxious about the day ahead.

If I can't provide for the family over here, you can't live here.

So if the work's not here for me,

there's no point carrying on to come over here.

It's important he makes a good impression with Shane, who could become a useful contact.

G'day, Paul, how are you? Nice to meet you.

Today we're going to have a look at this decking.

I have a plan in my head and we'll work our way through from there.

-So is there a big call for decking?

-Big call. Big call.

-Right.

The Cairns area is a lot to do with outdoor living, so we do lot of stuff like this.

We're going to run a few beams across, tied in here, and suspend it through.

I'll get you to plumb those down if you want to. Plumb those marks down.

Yeah, no worries.

Paul's keen to show Shane what he can do, but the slow economy is playing on his mind.

Back in the UK, the building trade is taking a bit of a downturn.

Is the building trade affected, basically, over here?

It has been affected in the last few months.

There is a few problems in town with other builders not coping so well with the downturn.

There's a lot of people on the market at the moment, so it's made things a little difficult.

It looks like Paul's fears WERE justified.

Kerry is determined to make things happen and pull out all the stops to make her dream a reality.

She has experience as a nail technician and is on the lookout

for similar work in Australia to boost the family's finances.

She's meeting up with Marjorie Tatipata, who owns a nail salon in downtown Cairns.

-Hello, I'm Marjorie, welcome.

-I'll see you in a minute.

-OK? Bye.

-Bye.

She's got to prove her manicuring skills, and she'd better get it right.

The model is the boss herself.

What I'm going to have to do is get some clippers, but we'll find them in a minute. OK?

-We'll just start now.

-Yeah.

Kerry's concerned that Paul's job prospects might put an end to their dreams.

This morning Paul went to work.

I'm hoping that he's going to come home with a job!

It's like, "Kerry, I've got to stay here.

"You've got to take the kids home and sell the house and come out and meet me," I'm hoping!

I hope Paul realises when he...

-I hope he sees what I see...

-Yeah.

..and that is a future out here for us.

And there will be, because the industry, I know - the building industry here -

is slow at the moment, but it will definitely pick up.

Back at the site, Paul's working hard, and Shane is encouraging about possible prospects in Australia,

despite the recession, as long as Paul keeps an open mind.

The building scope of works has changed. There's still the work available,

but we've also gone into renovations, government stimulus packages.

Government is spending a lot at the moment, building infrastructure up, parks, schools.

-That shouldn't be a problem for me.

-Yeah.

Although Shane might not be able to offer Paul a job now, he's happy to give him advice on getting started.

-To get set up and to get started, you'll have to go pretty hard and pretty quick.

-Right.

-I'd come over, work alongside somebody...

-Work alongside somebody and get to know people.

You've got the skills and experience, but you have to get your head around how it's done. It's a bit different.

If he worked alongside someone to start with, what could Paul potentially earn?

On a foreman's wage, you'd be looking about 1,500 a fortnight, which works out about 75,000 a year, I believe,

and then from there you work up.

That's just under £40,000, a little more than he currently earns in the UK.

I think that Paul would be all right for any work out this way.

He's easy enough, he's willing to give it a go, so, yeah, I think Paul would be good out here.

He's basically confirmed that obviously there is work here.

It's just that I've got to go out and look for it.

Meanwhile, the kids are getting star treatment.

Who cares about global economic meltdown when you can have glowy nails?

Kerry wants to contribute to the family coffers and impress Marjorie with her skills.

-How do you think my method is?

-I think it's terrific.

I'm really impressed with your technique,

and even your personality just goes with the job - being able to communicate with people.

So, um...yeah.

-If we were looking for a technician in the future, would you be interested?

-Yeah, definitely.

Kerry's obviously got what it takes, but, as always, she's concerned about Paul's commitment to the move.

I think Paul wants the safe way.

He wants it safe. Paul wants a job, he wants everything ready for him.

You know? You don't know what he's thinking or what he's going to do. He doesn't talk.

Paul doesn't talk. He just nods his head.

It's just lip service, really, what you get from him.

You ask a question, and it's, "Yes, yes, I understand," but you never really get anywhere.

Well, Paul, thanks very much for helping out.

Paul's got a lot on his mind.

He's never lived outside his hometown, and a move Down Under would be a massive change.

Plympton, where I live, does seem like a long way at this present moment.

Australia, at the moment, it seems like more of a holiday mode. Um...

I'm never going to be 100% about moving to Australia,

but Kerry is obviously 120%, so I'll just have to wait and see.

He could come home and say he absolutely loves it, and then get back to England and say,

"Well, it was a completely different environment, it wasn't real life."

Things like that. That's the only thing with Paul.

You don't... He...he plays games.

And, um... I don't know.

I've just got to wait and see. I'll have to wait and see what he says when I see him later.

His face will really tell me.

Paul knows this decision could change his family's future.

He's always been reluctant to make the commitment to move.

So, for work, will Paul choose the UK or Australia?

I've decided...

to choose Australia,

because I'd rather have the sun on my back instead of the rain.

Kerry anxiously awaits his return.

Let's just wait and hope.

That's all we can do, isn't it?

-How did you get on?

-Yeah, not too bad.

-What did you flip it on?

-You'll have to wait and see.

No, I'm allowed to know now.

You tell me now.

I would rather have the sun on my back.

Oh, you're a good man.

-So that's two down.

-Two down.

Two down, yeah. We're nearly there. I had a fantastic day.

Thanks for asking(!) What's new?

Well, you didn't give me a chance to speak!

What's new?

-Yeah, so, what was your day like?

-Brilliant. Absolutely loved it.

She seemed really pleased about what I was doing, and she said when we come back to give her a call.

So who knows what could happen?

-This time next year we could be in Australia!

-Mummy, my phone's uncharged.

Kerry Haigh's always wanted to move Down Under.

This is beyond passion, beyond desire.

She dreams of a tropical paradise in which to bring up her kids,

but husband Paul has never wanted to leave home.

Everybody wants to better themselves, but is there a limit?

He's made a big decision on the job front,

but leaving loved ones behind is harder than any of them imagined.

'Really think seriously about this.'

It is your life. You're going the other side of the world.

When it comes to the final vote, will Paul end Kerry's dreams for good?

'We are now running out of time. I do not want to miss the boat.'

He's got to make a decision pretty damn quick as to whether or not he's going to lift myself and our children

and come here to live and start a brand-new, fresh, loving life.

The Haighs could get good jobs in Australia,

but if they're going to afford their dream home,

they have to get a good price for their house back in Plymouth.

Their home is a four-bedroom house which they bought in 1997 for £61,000.

They now believe it's worth around £200,000.

Ready?

We sent two estate agents round to give them a more recent valuation.

Hey!

-AGENT:

-'Hmm. It needs some finishing in here, doesn't it?

-'It needs a bit of a clean as well, I think.'

-Cheeky man!

I'll be seeing him!

Ah! They've put in an en suite.

-No, we haven't.

-Ah, no, they haven't.

-HINGES CREAK

-'OK.'

Oh! This is different.

Phoebe's room.

'Wow! That is small.'

Paul and Kerry need a good quote if the move is going to work. So what's their house worth?

'We would be looking at marketing this property, because it's got a private driveway'

and a sunny rear garden, around the 185 sort of mark.

They look a little disappointed.

I think for the right person, they will pay that little bit extra,

because of what the house offers, where the house is...

Paul is optimistic, but there may be worse to come.

'There are some finishing touches that need doing before the property is sold. For a quick sale,'

if they are looking to move abroad, it really needs to be down

around the £175,000 mark.

That's a lot less than they'd hoped.

I didn't think it would go down that much, I must admit. I thought maybe the 190s.

-The last six months, it's dropped from about 220.

-Yes.

The house up the road sold for 220,000.

So it has dropped dramatically, obviously.

Even for Kerry, the financial reality is setting in.

It might make it difficult to go to property three, but it would be there on number two.

Just have to work a bit harder and for a bit longer if we wanted to come here, to get what we wanted.

The reality of how much their house is worth has dented their expectations,

but the Haighs also have to consider how much it would cost to live in Cairns.

We prepared a comparison of their UK and Australian expenses

to find out which would leave them better off.

Pool pump. We haven't got a pool at home.

Pool pump runs three hours a day. Small or large pool? We'd want a large pool, wouldn't we?

-Mm-hm.

-Runs six hours a day, 25 cents per hour, da-da-da...

OK. So that's going to be...

48. For an extra £48 a month.

The subtropical climate in Cairns would mean an unforeseen expense.

Air conditioning is different. Air conditioning is extra on top.

-Yeah.

-Air conditioning...

is 186.

But if that was hard to swallow, there's worse to come.

Their beloved dog, Arnold, would also be moving Down Under, and it's not cheap for pets to emigrate.

It's going to cost approximately, I reckon, anything from £3,000 to £4,000 to get him over here.

-Yeah.

-But I wouldn't leave him behind anyway - there's no way I'd leave Arnold behind.

So you have to look at that extra on top.

Back in the UK, the Haighs enjoy a comfortable lifestyle,

but the Australian costs seem to be adding up, so what's the final reckoning?

-166...

-And that's a minus.

And that's minus, isn't it?

It's a small saving, but not as much as they had hoped.

It is a bit of a shock to see that there.

The cost of living is a lot higher than what I thought.

Paul isn't impressed with the figures, but they don't take into account Kerry's plans to work.

I would also work, and I'd want to work over here.

If it helped towards a better lifestyle with a home,

luxuries for the children, I would definitely work for them.

-Not a problem at all.

-But with Kerry having to work,

will that affect the quality of life for us over here?

Whether things can be sorted out, I don't know.

I'm just sorting out the figures, seeing if they can be moved a decimal point here or there.

I may have made a mistake.

Kerry won't give up, but it's time to vote.

On the cost of living, I'm going to vote...

-..the UK.

-And I'm going to vote...

..Australia, due to the fact that I will work when we've over here.

Oh, dear! Paul's digging his heels in and Kerry's dreams are hanging in the balance.

If the Haighs do decide to move, they're going to want to bring their beloved dog, Arnold.

There's one danger you need to know about if you're going to bring your pooch to Queensland,

and it all relates back to the state's most important cash crop.

Take a drive through northern Queensland and you can't help but notice the huge sugar cane fields.

In the 1930s, these fields

came under attack from an influx of greyback beetles that destroyed the plantations piece by piece.

Plantation owners decided to find a predator for the beetles, who were threatening the entire industry.

This led to the introduction of the South American cane toad.

Cane toads were bought out in 1935 to combat pests of the sugar cane.

This sugar cane is a big industry up here.

It was first started in the 1870s, and now it's the second biggest industry up here after tourism.

So it was very important in the 1930s, but it was being eaten out by these little grubs of these beetles,

and they thought, "Let's bring the cane toads in to solve the problem."

However, things didn't quite go according to plan.

The beetles lived in the cane stalk and the toads lived on the ground, so unfortunately they rarely met.

The cane toads thought, "There's no food here, so see you later, Jack -

"I'm going out into the open areas, where I can find insects around street lights

"and nice open areas where I can grab a lot of insects."

And, of course, the sugar cane pest, the beetles, just kept going.

It wasn't for quite a few years that they got chemicals to combat the pests of the sugar cane.

From the original 100 introduced as a pest control,

it's estimated there are now hundreds of millions.

With no known predators or diseases, they've become a massive pest themselves.

As well as having an impact on native species, they also represent a danger to animals, including dogs.

They have an extremely powerful neurotoxin.

The toxin comes through glands on their skin.

It's concentrated on these shoulder glands, called parotoid glands.

With dogs it's another problem.

If they swallow it, the dog is in real trouble, especially small dogs.

If you see a dog eat a cane toad, or put a cane toad in its mouth, it must be rushed to the vet straight away.

It's a life-threatening situation for that animal.

The cane toad is one of Australia's most successful immigrants, and it's not going home.

They're here to stay. They're part of our wildlife.

You just have to get used to it. Learn to love them, I suppose!

It's not just dogs that need to be careful of the wildlife.

Cairns is many people's idea of a tropical paradise,

but there are dangers that lurk beneath the surface

which you need to be aware of if you're going to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.

The Haighs have come to the local nature park

to get up close and personal with some of the state's deadliest wildlife,

and they have to venture into the depths of the rainforest to find it.

Cairns' waterways are plagued by ferocious saltwater crocodiles, as guide Tom Hughes explains.

-Are they that aggressive?

-Yeah, very aggressive animals.

They are very territorial and have the strongest jaw of any animal,

so you would not want to mess with a crocodile.

If you see a sign, do not jump in the water, because they'll be there,

they'll sense you're there and kill you.

Even the koala isn't quite as friendly as it might first appear.

-She's lovely.

-These guys are very aggressive in the wild.

If you were to grab a koala off a tree, it would latch on to your face, scratch and bite you.

It has very, very sharp claws.

Well, it does hurt me. LAUGHTER

-Where does it hurt?

-My neck.

-That's the claws going in.

-I know.

But the koala is the least of their worries.

It's really cold. I think it's the children's turn now.

It's lovely. No, I don't want to hold it! Don't get the head near me!

But this python doesn't use poison to kill its prey.

It bites its prey and wraps itself around it and squeezes until it cannot breathe any more.

Australia has more venomous than non-venomous species of snake,

including the world's most poisonous of all.

Australia does hold the most venomous snake in the world - your inland taipan.

One bite could kill many, many men.

So very, very dangerous snake these guys are.

Their venom only takes half an hour to work.

You've only got half an hour to get anti-venom in you to save your life.

One reason why not to come to Australia - the taipan.

I've only found one, though. That's not bad.

For Kerry, the Queensland wildlife is just another challenge to overcome.

Coming to Australia, the children and I would have to learn a lot about the wildlife.

We've seen a lot today, we've been taught a lot today,

but there's a lot more to learn regarding the snakes and spiders and everything else.

It's been an action-packed day in the rainforest, and it's all part of the outdoor Aussie lifestyle.

But Paul still has his doubts about moving.

It feels more like a holiday-type thing at this present moment.

You need time to sit down and look at it in a different perspective...

..before moving here.

It's still very early days for us... in my eyes, anyway.

Despite their day out, Kerry just can't convince Paul to commit to the move.

I am really disappointed. My passion for the place I wanted, obviously, to overspill on to him.

But it's not going as fast as I want it to.

So we'll just have to wait and see, I suppose. Just wait and see.

It needs a little bit more time.

I'm not very happy.

They still can't agree.

When it comes to Aussie lifestyle versus what they have in the UK, how will they vote?

We've had a really good day out. We're going to vote for...

ALL: ..Australia!

(Yes!)

That's another round to Kerry, but will it mean anything when it comes to the final vote?

The Haighs are coming to the end of their trial week.

When they see messages from friends and family back home, they get a bit of a shock.

I really want to go home.

But it's time to see how well they could fit in if they move Down Under.

To help them make a final decision, we're going to show them the friendlier side of Cairns.

We've arranged for the Haighs to meet Russell and Samantha Boswell, who've lived in Cairns for 20 years.

Their kids are Amy and Oliver.

-Hello.

-Nice to meet you.

-You, too. How do you do?

-We've got a picnic.

-Come and join us.

-That would be lovely.

-We've brought a few beers.

-Fantastic.

We've got what everybody wants.

The Haighs are keen to find out as much as possible about the area.

-Where do you actually live?

-We live here in Kewarra Beach.

We're probably...400 metres up the road.

So it's a handy beach for us to come to and have a nice time.

A lot of people are here because they choose to be here.

And so, by doing that, they're always happy.

It's amazing. You get... Oh, I don't know. ..200 days in a row that look like this,

yet every day people are saying, "Wow, isn't it a great day today."

Would you say it's a family place?

It's my personal preference.

The beach is ours. Look at us now.

-It's your local beach.

-That's it. All you get is locals bringing their dogs down and kids playing.

The kids are just as curious as Mum and Dad.

What's it actually like living in Cairns?

It's really lovely. Just, like, every day is something different.

Cairns is very small. Every day, even at the shops,

you see someone you know and start a ten-minute conversation.

The girls have made friends, but they're not going anywhere

unless Paul and Kerry can agree.

Is it more you or Kerry that's thinking about heading out this way?

It was probably more of...

Well, not probably. It IS more of Kerry's dream to come over here.

She's had this dream for as long as I've known her.

Paul isn't dead against it, but he's not 100% for it yet.

He wants to look for jobs. Being the man, he wants to make sure the family's secure.

I'm going to try and really bend his arm.

Now Kerry's cornered me, and I'm sure if the answer was, like, no,

I'm sure I'll be seeing a divorce lawyer!

The kids are making the most of the great outdoors,

and Kerry hopes meeting the Boswells might finally help sway Paul.

Hopefully, by meeting Russell and Sam today, Paul will realise that there is more outside of Plymouth,

that the world is a big place, and that yes, he can and we can, as a family, meet new friends.

Over here, I'll be like a fresh person -

you know, an outsider, so to speak.

The decision actually to basically move to here is still quite mixed.

We've just got to wait and see.

I just hope and hope and pray that Paul votes for the same as what I do.

As far as staying and making new friends or going back to our old friends, we are going to vote...

-FOUR OF THEM: ..Australia!

-UK.

I'm happy to make new friends, but I would like to keep my old friends.

Annie would miss her friends back home, but at least Paul SEEMS to be coming round.

Paul's been voting in all the right ways, but he may have a surprise for Kerry.

Before they make a final decision they've all got to remember what they'll be leaving behind.

We've prepared some messages from their friends and family back home.

Hi, Kerry, Paul, Phoebe, Annie and Max, I am missing you all loads.

Hello, Phoebe, it's Georgina,

I hope you're having a really good time.

Hi Annie, it's Emily, I'm missing you loads, I really wish you were here.

Paul is very, very thoughtful.

He doesn't like to hurt people's feelings.

He is a big softie.

He's fun, loving, very caring.

He loves his family. He would do anything for all of us.

I see him every day now, it would be a change to be without him.

-I'd probably miss

-BLEEP,

-but you never know.

He is nervous, I think. He is nervous. He would be a bit like me.

-When the crunch comes, I'd not be nervous, I'd be thinking of this, that and the other.

-He's my son...

I can't bear the thought of him being on the other side of the world, to be honest.

Kerry is a fun-loving girl with her family always at heart.

She wouldn't do anything without considering them first.

I'm so proud of her family achievements, her work achievements,

-she's the bedrock of the family.

-Kerry is the glue in her family

and in my life, she's huge.

She has supported me through my divorce, and everything in my life.

I would miss her terribly.

The thing I like best about Annie, she's really caring and

she's always there for you.

If they did go to Australia I would be a little bit upset.

She's like my best friend and I've known her for quite a long time.

Oh, God, I would miss their chatter,

they're always telling me what's going on in their lives.

Phoebe would phone me up and say she's taking exams.

If they lose a tooth, Max phones me, if they gain a tooth, you know...

It's a natural thing, let Nanny know.

I think it's good for them, but in a way I don't want her to go

because I'm going to miss her a lot if she does go.

-What will you miss about her?

-Everything. Just being with her.

Her making me laugh.

Just...a friend.

She deserves this.

If she doesn't do it she'll regret it.

I honestly believe that,

but ask me what for, if she goes...

Really think seriously about this, because it is your life.

It really is a big decision.

It's not as if you can come back in an hour's time.

You're going the other side of the world.

Obviously we don't really want you to stay there, we would prefer you to come back home and just

have Australia as a holiday, really and come back home and stay here and not live there.

Make sure the decision's the right one,

because we'll miss you.

That's all I can say, really.

I really don't want you to go because I love you to pieces,

but I really...

Well, we love you.

That's all I can say.

I'm supposed to be laughing.

That wasn't fair. Was it?

What's the matter?

It was sweet. I think we're only crying because they're nice people.

We're not crying because of anything else.

It's only because they're really sweet, isn't it?

It doesn't change my opinion...

at all.

What about you guys?

No, it doesn't.

No? What about you, Annie?

-Kind of?

-Hey?

-Kind of.

You're kind of... How?

Because I really will miss Emily.

You'd miss Emily?

-And what did you think?

-Yeah...

Dad's just afraid because he's crying.

We've got to do as a family what we think is best for our family.

We're the grown-ups in the situation, we've got to do what's best for them.

Yeah, which we will.

Not for us... I know, say Nanny was emigrating, would we sit there and say,

"Don't do it"?

If we did, we would say that, because we'd be speaking selfishly on our behalf.

-No, you'd be speaking from the heart.

-No, I wouldn't.

No, that is basically what they are.

They're speaking from the heart but they're speaking in a small way because they are being selfish,

they don't want you to leave them.

That is a selfish act.

I really want to go home.

Seeing their loved ones back home hasn't been easy for any of them.

There are still big decisions to be made.

It's bound to make you think,

but I haven't got to think of my outside family, so to speak,

I have to think of my direct family at the end of the day.

Which is going to be better, the best thing for them?

I'm not the type of person that would take no for an answer.

For him I would not like to be in the same position he is

because he is torn between the devil and the deep blue sea.

If he goes he's damned, if he stays he's damned.

It is really quite difficult for him.

She's always wanted to come over here.

It has seemed like I've put the...

blocks in front of her.

Obviously, for me, to do the final straw on her,

I think that would cause a few problems.

Even though I know quite a few good solicitors,

I think this will be one battle that I won't win.

The Haighs' trial week Down Under hasn't been straightforward.

Kerry's always been obsessed with making the move Down Under.

This is beyond passion, beyond desire.

I want it so bad. I wouldn't worry about leaving anything behind.

They could afford a nice property.

It's like a holiday home, but it will actually be a home.

And both could find work.

I'm really impressed, even your personality goes with the job.

But Kerry can't convince husband, Paul, who's happy back in Plymouth.

I've always said, "Why do you want to move away, why do you want to leave here?

"You've got everything you want."

Leaving friends and family behind upsets them all more than they thought.

Come back home and stay here and not live there.

It's nearly time to make their final decision.

We are now running out of time. I do not want to miss the boat.

This is our final boat now. This is it, we've got to get on it.

He's got to make a decision pretty damn quick to whether or not

he's going to lift myself and our children and come here to start a brand new, fresh, loving life.

God, that's one of the million-dollar questions, isn't it, really? The final vote.

It's...

yes and no, I would say.

It is a big question.

Where would you rather be?

-Where would you rather be, Max?

-Australia.

-Australia!

There is no doubt where Kerry and the kids stand, but Paul's on his own.

It's up to him to make the ultimate decision about his family's future.

He's always kept up a strong defence, but will he maintain it?

It's time for the final vote.

We've had a wonderful week here in Australia, we're going to vote for...

Australia.

My vote is...

-Australia.

-Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Good boy!

-Good boy, daddy.

-Oh, thanks.

Well done. Yeah, OK.

-You're joking me.

-You can go into a home.

I thought it would be the best thing for the family.

Obviously, the best thing for my health in the long run!

Paul's had me on tenterhooks all week with what he's going to vote.

I have not known at all, whatever vote we've done, what he is going to go for.

So, I'm absolutely over the moon that he's willing to give this a go.

It is a lovely country.

I can see the children benefiting from it.

If everything maps out the way that we want it, hopefully, we will be moving to Australia.

Emigrating to Australia is never an easy choice.

Paul's made a big decision for the sake of his family.

We wish the Haighs all the very best of luck with their move Down Under.

Bring it on.

I want another biscuit.

-More than a lettuce leaf?

-Yeah.

You can have a lettuce leaf and a sunflower seed.

And a sunflower seed?

Right, don't push your luck.

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