Oz rolls up the welcome mat

The "Kiwi bludger" myth has led Australia to sharply curtail New Zealanders' welfare entitlements. ALAN PERROTT explains the changes.

New Zealanders are more than welcome to contribute taxes to the Australian economy, but if you run into money troubles don't expect a quick handout in return.

The Australian Government has decided to end our right to permanent residence and social welfare payments.

It says we are an unfair drain on its coffers and a backdoor route for undesirables wanting easy entry into the lucky country, despite statistics showing our expats have a higher-than-average employment rate and earnings.

The ground has shifted and Australia is a little farther away than it was last week.

So can eager New Zealanders still make a go of it in Sydney or head to the Gold Coast to enjoy an allover tan during their twilight years?

What benefits or rights have we lost?


New Zealanders wanting to live in Australia can no longer receive social welfare payments, other than the superannuation and severe disability benefits covered by the new Social Security Agreement, until they have lived there for two years and have been granted permanent residency.

The Australian benefits affected by the changes include the community wage, emergency benefit, transitional retirement benefit and some categories of domestic purposes benefit and widows benefit.

Those on an invalid benefit will not be automatically eligible for a benefit in Australia unless the disability is severe, the person has lived in both countries before the disability occurred, and the disability occurred in either New Zealand or Australia.

New Zealanders cannot apply for Australian citizenship or try to sponsor non-New Zealand family members for permanent residence in Australia until they become permanent residents themselves.

What benefits or rights have we retained?


New Zealanders are still able to travel, holiday, work, live and retire in Australia under a Special Category Visa (SCV), provided they meet the present immigration health and character criteria. This visa is automatically granted to New Zealand citizens on arrival in Australia.

You will still not need to apply to migrate to Australia, or need a work permit or normal visa. But if you are living in New Zealand and are not a New Zealand citizen, you will still need to apply for a visa before travelling to Australia.

Any New Zealanders living in Australia before February 26, 2001, will now be treated as permanent residents and can continue to receive any welfare benefits.

Any New Zealanders who were outside Australia on February 26, but who have spent at least one year there on a special visa during the two years before that date, can still adopt permanent resident status if they return to Australia within the next 12 months.

New Zealanders already planning to move and who arrive in Australia on an SCV before May 26 this year can still get a social security benefit if they apply to the Australian Government's employment and social welfare agency Centrelink within three years and are confirmed as having assumed residence in that country.

People wanting to retire to Australia can still receive New Zealand superannuation or veterans pension payments, even if they have not lived in Australia before.

When does the new policy take effect?


The changes to Australia's immigration policy came into effect yesterday. The revised Social Security Agreement, which affects how the New Zealand and Australian Governments will fund various pensions, superannuation payments and disability benefits on both sides of the Tasman, will come into effect on July 1, 2002.

What safeguard measures can be taken to avoid financial problems after arriving in Australia?


As new arrivals will not be eligible for the dole, the Australian Government advises migrants to retain an emergency fund, including a return airfare, and to take out income insurance.

The Department of Work and Income in New Zealand (Winz) does not pay any work-related or special benefits to people applying from outside New Zealand.

But as long as they retain their New Zealand permanent residency, those in dire financial difficulty can return to New Zealand and apply for the unemployment benefit immediately.


What are the criteria for getting permanent residence in Australia?


New Zealanders now have to meet the same criteria on qualifications, skills and health restrictions as any other nation.

But you do not have to apply for permanent residency before leaving for Australia.

When an application is lodged, all previous periods of residence in Australia will count towards the two-year waiting period. But be aware that, because of the loading given to those aged 18 to 39, most people over 45 will not get any points in the age category and will not be able to gain permanent residency.

The skills category recognises occupations which require a trade certificate, degree or diploma. To gain any skills points, you must have been in paid work for at least six months in the two years before lodging your application.

How about retirement to Australia?


New Zealanders will still be able to live in Australia indefinitely, as they do now.

What about superannuation?


The present agreement involves lump sum payments between the New Zealand and Australian Governments to reimburse benefits paid to the other's nationals.

From July 1, 2002, that will change. If you worked part of your life in New Zealand and part in Australia, you may receive two payments, one from each Government, according to the proportion of time you worked in each country.

The combined payment will be comparable to what you would have received if you had only one social security payment from either country, allowing for fluctuations associated with the exchange rate.

Will I need to apply for two payments if I already received superannuation or other benefits before July 1, 2002?


No. Only people who have lived in both countries and apply for super or other benefits after that date will need to apply to two countries.

The benefits and pensions included in the new arrangement include New Zealand superannuation, veterans pension and invalid benefit and the Australian age pension, carer payment (for the partners of disability support pensioners) andthe disability support pension.

Did the New Zealand Government have any say in Australia's new policies?


No, there were no negotiations between Governments over these changes.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said such policies were for the Australian Government alone to decide.

She said there was no suggestion that New Zealand would introduce similar requirements for Australian immigrants or tighten immigration criteria for any other nationalities.

Where can New Zealanders get more information?


The best source in New Zealand is the freephone NZ to OZ Helpline 0800 441-248 or 0800 600-555 for an information pack. Winz has set up a helpline on 0800 777-577 or, if calling from overseas, 0064 4 916-2437.