Advice on PPL

Hi guys and gals!
Just heard about this group from a regular here (I think he's a regular
here!), and thought I'd take the opporyunity to ask a question that's been
bugging me.
I am going to start flying lessons within the next few months, come hell or
high water, and have started investigating what is involved. Due to budget
constraints, the lessons will be fairly thinly spaced, probably only 1
lesson a month, but maybe 2 or 3 in the first month. (Gotta love a decent
tax refund cheque!)
I live in Australia, so this question relates to regulations in Australia.
(Obviously! :-))
I have been told by a guy I know who flies for Cathay Pacific, that I can
learn to fly in an 'Ultra Light' and still nd up with a PPL. By Ultra Light
he means something like a Jabiru, and not a hang glider with a lawnmower
engine bolted on the back. He indicated that it would be much cheaper, and
I'd only need about 5 hours in a Cessna to complete the licence.
One flight school I rang, actually suggested I use their Jabiru to learn in,
and I'd end up with a full PPL at the end, puely with lessons in the Jabiru!
Is this correct? Can it be done in this type of a/c from start to finish?
(Talking only to PPL here, no IFR ratings or night ratings or anything like
that.) If so, it seems like the way to go for me. The flight school said the
average cost would drop from around $12,000 to around $8,000 in total! The
flight school said the Jabiru, or Gazelle for flight instruction is $30
cheaper per hour than a C150, and $60 cheaper per hour than a C172 or PA28!
If I can end up with a PPL from the Jabiru or Gazelle, am I then still
licenced to fly the Cessnas, or am I only qualified to fly the smaller
Jabirus or Gazelles?
Sorry for the dumb questions, but a guy needs to start somewhere.
Thanks in advance,
Crash Lander