Firstly I don’t’ want to create any Anti-Australia thoughts with this blog, I want to tell of a situation that is currently happening and how many New Zealanders could be financially damaged by choosing to live in Australia over the long term.
This is a topic that directly affect us in how we live in Australia.
We are able to live here and work here under the Special Visa Category that was created in 2001, however with new laws that are about to be passed in parliament in July 2013 will see us paying more for healthcare. yet as we are “special category” visa holders we will not be eligible for any assistance financially should we fall ill while living here.
As Elena is originally from Russia, she could study and gain a qualification that Australia want’s to be a doctor etc. and become an Australian Citizen, however in her current role she earns more than a practising G.P. and therefore pays more tax! and folks isn’t that what any government is really after – more revenue?
Our son is the one who will suffer the most at the age now of 19 years, he has to think about how he will survive here knowing that if anything happens to his health the Australian Government will not help him.
He has now completed a mechanic course, yet because of his Naturalised New Zealand Citizenship, he does not qualify for Australia assistance to obtain an apprenticeship. Hang on I thought Australia was all for training skilled workers? He does have his Russian Nationality to fall back on like is Mum, however if he wants to study he’ll have to pay exorbitant international student fees. How will he pay, oh that’s right – he needs to get a job first (with no qualifications).
Don’t even get me started on comments I hear from local people about foreigners who come here to take Australian jobs…
It’s really made us think about our long term investment into Australia. With over 170,000 New Zealand people currently affected the general thought is that Australia is using New Zealanders as a work force.
Our plans are to earn as much as we can over the next couple of years here and then as the Aussies put it… Bugger off.
This is a copy of the current petition that is being put to the Australian Government.
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia
Tony Abbott, Liberal leader
Australian Human Rights Commission
Wayne Swan
Penny Wong
Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Department of Immigration
Stuart Robert, Shadow Minister for Defense & Personnel
Senator Johnston, Shadow Minister for Defense
Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Immigration
Joel Fitzgibbon
Mark Butler, Minister for Social Inclusion
Nick Xenophon, Independent Senator for South Australia
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship estimates that up to 60% of New Zealanders will never be eligible for official permanent resident visas.
These people will forever be considered non-residents in Australia (at least on paper), which disadvantages them and leaves them vulnerable in a way that all other long-term australian residents aren’t. As non-residents they are going to be excluded from the new NDIS (Disability) scheme while also having to pay the increased tax levy. This exclusion extends to Australian born children of New Zealand Citizens until they are 10 years old, preventing important early intervention therapy.
Perhaps the worst situation confronts New Zealand citizens who came here as children and who know no other home. They are denied access to citizenship, and as non-citizens have also been denied access to student loans. Thus, many are unable to go to university and therefore unable to gain the skills that could put them on the path to citizenship.
Please read the stories in the below pages left by Australians and New Zealanders alike supportive of changing the 2001 laws, they show that there is electoral support within the Australian community.
Sincerely,
I was asked to change one sentence in this blog as it seemed to have offended some people I know.
However I want to clear something up.
The comment “Foreigners taking our jobs” is not correct. What the persons concerned really should have focused on was that no other person was qualified enough to take the position. But sadly their thoughts were focused in the wrong direction.
Hope that this clears the air…