welfare support for NZers in Australia

[Banker]

Prime Minister John Key says one of the issues he will raise with Australian Prime Minister, Julia Guillard, this weekend is the provision of welfare support to New Zealanders living in Australia.

Mr Key is in Melbourne for a meeting with Ms Guillard and a joint cabinet meeting on Sunday.

He says a change in policy being considered by Australia could result in 100,000 New Zealanders being made permanent residents of that country.

Mr Key says that would mean they then became eligible for welfare support.

The problem for many New Zealanders living in Australia became clear when those affected by the Queensland floods were initially ineligible for government support.

Mr Key says the Australian government will have to consider the cost of the change before making a decision.

goo.gl/9Uyy8

[Banker]

Like for Christ sake Julia GET THE AUSTRALIAN PENSIONERS fixed up first.

I know you read our forum here Julia, so start helping Australians FIRST.

[Banjo]

You're joking aren't you?
They have their PRIME MINISTER on their side, who do you think is going to get fixed up first?

[Banker]

Jan 28, 2012 14:29:06 GMT 7 Banjo said:

You're joking aren't you?
They have their PRIME MINISTER on their side, who do you think is going to get fixed up first?

No Im not joking Im just very pissed off about the situation that Australian pensioners are being put in

[Banker]

Now Im really Pissed off.

The Australian Government is looking at easing residency requirements for an estimated 100,000 Kiwis denied welfare and other entitlements across the Tasman.

Prime Minister John Key confirmed this afternoon the topic was high on the agenda for talks with his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard and members of her Cabinet in Australia tomorrow.

The move follows repeated representations from the New Zealand Government over the plight of New Zealanders across the Tasman who have been denied welfare and other support since 2001, when the rules were changed.

Mr Key said the Australian Government had mooted " a new pathway to residency" that would apply to an estimated 100,000 Kiwis living across the Tasman, in recognition of their plight.

While many have lived and worked there for years, they do not qualify for permanent residency.

The process being mooted by Australia would make it easier for them to get residency but Mr Key said details on how that worked were still to be thrashed out and it seems likely there will be qualifying period of some years.

The plight of New Zealanders living in Australia without permanent residency under the current right of free travel between the two countries was highlighted during the Queensland floods and Melbourne bushfires, when many were initially denied government assistance.

The Australian Government made an exception after representations from New Zealand but that is currently on a case by case basis and not automatic.

Mr Key said the Australian Government was looking at "resolving that issue".

"It won't fix every situation but it may give them much greater rights and give them that pathway through to citizenship.

goo.gl/TvUp2

[eight]

NZ is really just another state of Australia. Many rules and reg's are the same, and most new laws take into consideration that the two countries will be even closer to gether in the future.
I cannot see why NZers cannot get newstart, medicare etc on the same terms as australians, especially if thay have been paying taxes, and by that I include GST as a tax, when there are illegal immigrants, sorry, refugees, that get everything given to them from the time they set foot on Xmas island.

[Banker]

Jan 29, 2012 5:56:19 GMT 7 Banker said:

Now Im really Pissed off.

The Australian Government is looking at easing residency requirements for an estimated 100,000 Kiwis denied welfare and other entitlements across the Tasman.

Prime Minister John Key confirmed this afternoon the topic was high on the agenda for talks with his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard and members of her Cabinet in Australia tomorrow.

The move follows repeated representations from the New Zealand Government over the plight of New Zealanders across the Tasman who have been denied welfare and other support since 2001, when the rules were changed.

Mr Key said the Australian Government had mooted " a new pathway to residency" that would apply to an estimated 100,000 Kiwis living across the Tasman, in recognition of their plight.

While many have lived and worked there for years, they do not qualify for permanent residency.

The process being mooted by Australia would make it easier for them to get residency but Mr Key said details on how that worked were still to be thrashed out and it seems likely there will be qualifying period of some years.

The plight of New Zealanders living in Australia without permanent residency under the current right of free travel between the two countries was highlighted during the Queensland floods and Melbourne bushfires, when many were initially denied government assistance.

The Australian Government made an exception after representations from New Zealand but that is currently on a case by case basis and not automatic.

Mr Key said the Australian Government was looking at "resolving that issue".

"It won't fix every situation but it may give them much greater rights and give them that pathway through to citizenship.

goo.gl/TvUp2

The latest news is they have had their little meeting & Julia will think about it because money is involved.

[Banker]

Charming couple

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