Jacinda Ardern asks Scott Morrison to give Kiwis access to Centrelink payments

Jacinda Ardern calls on Scott Morrison to give unemployed Kiwis access to Centrelink payments if they lose their jobs because of coronavirus

New Zealanders living in Australia are calling on the government to give them full access to Centrelink payments as the coronavirus crisis puts thousands out of work.  

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has asked Scott Morrison to lift the ban on Kiwis receiving unemployment benefits in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic.

‘I have specifically sought could we have a short-term exemption? Just for these exceptional circumstances for New Zealanders to be supported,’ she said. 

‘Not least because it will encourage compliance during this time when we need people to be self-isolating for instances.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has asked Scott Morrison to lift the ban on Kiwis receiving unemployment benefits in Australia

Her call comes as more than 100,000 Kiwis living in Australia signed a Change.org petition asking for the Australian Government to reinstate full Centrelink support for New Zealand citizens living in Australia.

‘There is a relatively small number of Kiwis living in Australia who have found themselves suddenly out of work because of the COVID-19 outbreak and consequential shutdowns,’ the petition said.  

Alax Robinson, who created the petition, said he received a text message on his way to work which advised him he no longer had a job. 

‘My mum is here with me, is high-risk for COVID-19, and now can’t return to New Zealand. And I’ve heard from hundreds of Kiwis with heartbreaking stories,’ he said. 

Our home is here, our families are here, and we want to stay here. Many of us cannot simply uproot our lives here and head back to NZ. We have families, we are part of our communities.’

 More to come 

OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER 

The Honourable Stuart Robert MP,

As the Minister for Government Services, please allow New Zealand citizens who live and work in Australia to access the full Centrelink support safety net especially during COVID-19 outbreak.

The New Zealand government already offers access to the full social welfare safety net that Work and Income offer after only living in New Zealand for 30 days if they provide evidence that they intend to live and work in New Zealand going forward.

Please reinstate the reciprocal agreement that we used to have at the very least during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Many of us choose Australia as our home and have worked here for years paying full tax and making contributions for this safety net despite not being allowed to have any or only limited access to it.

This outbreak has turned the world upside down and it’s simply not practical for many of us to simply pack up and go back to New Zealand because our homes and families are now here in Australia.

SOURCE: ‘Give Full Centrelink Support for Kiwis who live and work in Australia. COVID-19’ petition 

Her call comes as more than 100,000 Kiwis living in Australia signed a Change.org petition asking for the Australian Government to reinstate full Centrelink support for New Zealand citizens living in Australia

Her call comes as more than 100,000 Kiwis living in Australia signed a Change.org petition asking for the Australian Government to reinstate full Centrelink support for New Zealand citizens living in Australia

 

 

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