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
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