Letter from Dept of Immigration

[Banker]

Letter to the Editor – The West Australian
16 May 2011

Dear Sir/Madam

I refer to a letter to the editor published in The West Australian (11/04/2011), claiming that refugees living in Australia are paid more than Australian pensioners. Let me assure you this is not only wrong, but has been the subject of much media reporting through the department's efforts to ensure myths such as this do not take hold. The myth originated in a hoax email in which the contents alleged refugees receive greater benefits than pensioners and war veterans.

More Here:

www.immi.gov.au/media/letters/letters11/le110516.htm

[Banjo]

Yeah, that crap has been going around in emails for a couple of years now.

[spaceyone]

I think this is the one they are referring to. I saw it the other night posted to a forum. Must be doing the rounds, supposedly from a war vet.

Hopefully the figures aren't true ...


MY QUESTIONS TO YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT.

* How many muslims and Sudanese refugees live in Australia now?

* What percentage of the Australian population are each group now?

* How much of total taxpayers money spent on them for the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 years? The total amount please.

* How much do you believe will be spent this year 2011 on refugees?

* How much tax payers money is in the current budget to support these people?

* If you need extra money for all the Muslims boats coming, can you tell me which budgeted area the money will come from? Is it from Hospitals, Education or reduction of Australians old age pension?

* What percentage of Australian welfare payment do these refugees represent of the welfare budget?

* Are you going to deport the Muslim trouble makers and leaders at Christmas Island currently destroying public property?

* Why don't you allow all the Queensland and Victorian flood victims living in tents and other shared accommodation to live in motels like the muslims at the taxpayer’s expense?

* Why didn't you pay for the families to attend the funeral of Sapper Jamie Larcombe who was killed recently like you did for the muslim boat people and pay for the funeral as well?

* Is it true that these refugees get the following payments?

* Why do these Muslim get a hardship allowance?


BENEFITS

Weekly allowance

AUSTRALIAN AGED PENSIONER - $253.00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN AUSTRALIA - $472.50


Weekly Spouse allowance

AUSTRALIAN AGED PENSIONER -$56.00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN AUSTRALIA - $472.50


Additional weekly hardship allowance

AUSTRALIAN AGED PENSIONER -$0.00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN AUSTRALIA - $145.00


TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT

AUSTRALIAN AGED PENSIONER -$16,068.00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN AUSTRALIA - $56,680.00

Some interesting Facts....

The rest of the email can be read here:

www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1461057/pg1

[Banjo]

Not even remotely true.
What's "weekly spouse allowance"?
A couple on the OAP receive the same payment each.
My father spent six years of his life fighting against the type of people who make up this crap.

[spaceyone]

I nearly posted it here the night I saw it on the other forum. But then didn't like its racist message, and figured that the figures couldn't possibly be true.

Shame they are not, or you could all come home as refugees and get rich.