My blog last week about the politicisation of Asylum seekers and refugees prompted quite a bit of reaction and I promised a number of readers that I’d do some research on the actual financial assistance they receive.

There are so many misleading rumours and “facts” around at the moment regarding asylum seekers and the benefits they get from the government.

One hoax email in particular is doing the rounds telling people that “illegal immigrants/refugees” receive thousands more in welfare payments than Australian pensioners.

Emails like this are completely fabricated and made up purely to conjure up negative sentiment towards asylum seekers.

Photo: IndyMedia.ord

If you’ve received an email which looks like this you should delete it, tell whoever sent it to you that they’re an idiot, and learn the facts…

• First of all, refugees are not illegal immigrants. It has never been illegal in Australia to arrive on shore without a visa seeking asylum. In fact it’s one of the rights within the UN’s declarations on refugees which Australia helped to write.

• When an asylum seeker arrives in Australia, they do not get any Centrelink benefits. While their status is being processed, and if they meet certain criteria, they can be eligible for financial support from the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme, administered through the Red Cross. This amount is 89% of the basic Centrelink allowance. This means approximately $405.84 per fortnight – over $260 less than a pensioner.

• Once an asylum seeker is recognised as a genuine refugee, after a long and highly scrutinized process, they are given permanent residency and are then entitled to the same Centrelink, schooling and health benefits as anyone else. No more, no less.

• The normal Centrelink welfare payment is $456 per fortnight, for a refugee with permanent residency and an Australian-born person. A pensioner in Australia receives $671.90. Over $200 more each fortnight. Even with family/parenting benefits, a refugee’s benefits would still be less than a pensioner’s income.

• For an asylum seeker to qualify for any payment under the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme, they must have lodged an application for a visa 6 months before, not be in detention, and not get any other payment or benefit.

• To get a permanent residence as a refugee, the person has to prove they are a genuine refugee fleeing persecution, go through character, security and medical tests, and sign an Australian Values Statement.

• ‘Boat people’ are asylum seekers. Refugees are asylum seekers who have been approved and given a visa. None of them are ‘illegal immigrants’.

The above facts come from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the Refugee Council of Australia, and from the Red Cross. A lot more reliable than a random email from a friend of a friend.

Before you make a judgment on asylum seeker policy, know the facts.

For more info, have a read of these:

- Myths about refugees and asylum seekers: the answers

- Response to lies and hoax emails – Refugee Council of Australi a

- Media Blunders on asylum seeker claims

- Assistance for Asylum seekers in Australia - DIAC

- Related articles: Avoid the POlitical Spin - Some Facts About Asylum Seekers

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+22 #419 Shelly 2013-01-20 21:20

I'm sorry if I don't believe everything I read or am told, I like the truth. Now as our Minister for Health, Tanya Pilbersek has such a strong desire to care for Australian's health care, she scrapped the CDDS (chronic disease dental scheme) so now people suffering with a C/D (chronic disease) are forced to a) suffer further consequences of ill health due to the lack if dental care they will now no longer receive b) or wait 6-8 years for public dental treatment as the wait list is astronomical especially when 'Asylum seekers/boat people' are given preference over Australian citizens. Don't believe me, you can read it on the royal Melbourne dentist hospital Web site, or call them, they'll tell you.

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-3 #418 Ali 2013-01-18 01:59

Quoting Ron Stalenberg:

Oh dear. Another myth - "they destroy their passports"....RUBBISH..... Most of these people never had passports. You assume that everyone can get one as easily as they do here in Australia. Not so. In many countries passports are only for the elite, the wealthy and the privileged.

Indeed oh dear.. Majority of boat arrivals are from Pakistan and Iran. Citizens of these countries can not fly to Indonesia without a- Valid passport, b-Valid Indo. visa. And Indo. visa application requires bit of checking and proves of sufficient subsistence. Check Indo govt web site and stop calling facts "myths". That's the reason why boat fakers destroy their ID's. Countries you talking about do exist, but those people can never make it to Indonesia in the first place! And those are people who are stuck in camps, while Aust. welcomes fake refugees on boats!

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-2 #417 Ali 2013-01-18 01:59

Quoting Ron Stalenberg:

Oh dear. Another myth - "they destroy their passports"....RUBBISH..... Most of these people never had passports. You assume that everyone can get one as easily as they do here in Australia. Not so. In many countries passports are only for the elite, the wealthy and the privileged.

Indeed oh dear.. Majority of boat arrivals are from Pakistan and Iran. Citizens of these countries can not fly to Indonesia without a- Valid passport, b-Valid Indo. visa. And Indo. visa application requires bit of checking and proves of sufficient subsistence. Check Indo govt web site and stop calling facts "myths". That's the reason why boat fakers destroy their ID's. Countries you talking about do exist, but those people can never make it to Indonesia in the first place! And those are people who are stuck in camps, while Aust. welcomes fake refugees on boats!

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-9 #416 Ali 2013-01-18 01:50

In my many years in Oz as immigrant I came to realization that most racist Australians are so called "progressive" hipsters, usually grouping around green party. They despise legal immigrants from poor countries, because we don't beg, we are proud and everything we get is because we work hard, without their "help",and eventually we achieve more than they ever will,despite starting from well behind. Their current govt. made so many racist laws and policy changes against foreign students and migrants, which Aust. media keeps dead silence about. We work harder, we taxed higher and milked at every step by Australia, we mistreated by customs,and we can't even voice it out, without getting standard response "u free to leave if u don't like". Yet they welcome fakers from our home countries, to feel good about themselves, however still making us pay the cost! It is just a smoke screen to hide their real racist attitude towards hundreds of thousands of foreign students and legal migrants.

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+24 #415 Penny 2013-01-15 11:11

There is one simple bottom line fact: Illegal refugees can go home or be sent home. Asylum seekers and refugees can't go home, by definition. That's why they're looking for somewhere else to live. You and I would do the same thing in their situation.

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-31 #414 Alim 2013-01-12 08:27

White people became slaves for other people now. Because, those people came not
fear for their life but they came for bread
to grab form mouths of Europeans.
In very near future Europeans will be homeless or without country. those Muslim
immmigrants will surpass them in business
and defeat them demographically by giving
birth to many children.
Even now those people they still loyal and own their own countries and share with you Sweden, Netherland etc.

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+29 #413 Carl 2013-01-08 05:58

An actual well-researched article on what "benefits" (aka assistance payments) are ACTUALLY paid to asylum seekers, and who pays it... who would have thought it possible in this country.
Of course, the comments are what you would expect... especially ironic given that half the mouth-breathers with access to a keyboard who are commenting would actually FAIL the Australian Citizenship test if they weren't automatically granted citizenship based on the sheer happenstance of having been born here.

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+26 #412 Christine 2013-01-06 17:57

I would do anything I had to do to keep my family safe. If my only options were to wait years in a desperate situation for my refugee status to be ascertained or to pay a lot of money to get onboard a boat that will take me to a peaceful country then the choice for me is clear. Put yourselves in their shoes. We are all so lucky to live where we do. It is our responsibility as a 1st world country to help ALL those in need- australian citizens and not inclusive. We have no right to judge those in such dire circumstances. There is so much hate and lies circulating; it makes you wonder how often the haters share their good fortune with those they think are being hard done by.

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+5 #411 Di 2013-01-06 14:20

Perhaps all of these people who are so against refugees - how ever they arrive in Australia- should 'walk a mile in their shoes'. Everyone is entitled to seek a better life for themselves and their family. If this was you, in a country where you faced poverty, sickness, war, discrimination- wouldn't you want to come to a place like Australia. We are do damned lucky to live here.

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+35 #410 jack 2013-01-06 14:18

iv seen the same thing .theres 4 familys who live in my street none of them work yet they have 2 new cars how does this happen iv worked all my life and can hardly afford to buy a good second hand car let alone 2 new ones someone plz explain i know these familys to be boat ppl iv spoken to them about it .you know what 1 said we love this country they give us money ..sorry but that really got my hackles up i had to walk away before i become to angry

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+42 #409 aidan 2013-01-06 11:00

glad to see your so worried about all these people.. just one question what about the homeless people here in our own country, those on housing commission wait lists for years while illegal immigrants get house before them...... and remember they cross aload of countries first before getting a boat to come here, knowing we are the only country they get paid to come too

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-13 #408 KL 2013-01-05 12:35

Quoting Caro Bird:

I met up with a former neighbour and what she said has stayed in my mind - "What happens when their religion calls them to arm?" Europe is in a mess and Australia is certainly heading that way. I am not racist but history tells us that Islam wants world domination and I do not want this to be a Muslim country. Wake up Australia NOW. It is all very fine for the do gooders to encourage these people but are ruining Australia's future peace.

One of the main reasons there's been a mass exodus from the middle east is due to the US invasion. The US called its allies to arms and everyone jumped on. I think history shows christendom tried to convert the world and was obsessed with controlling the holy land

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+10 #407 Alex Andersson 2013-01-05 10:26

A person on Newstart receives a basic Centrelink allowance of $492.60 a fortnight.

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-2 #406 Ron Stalenberg 2013-01-04 21:45

'What I question is that if these people are in real fear why do they not do everything in their power to ensure their own safety? Why do they destroy their ID papers?"

Oh dear. Another myth - "they destroy their passports"....RUBBISH..... Most of these people never had passports. You assume that everyone can get one as easily as they do here in Australia. Not so. In many countries passports are only for the elite, the wealthy and the privileged.

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+15 #405 April 2013-01-03 20:27

Quoting lynette smith:

Quoting Malindi:

Well said Kochie - we've got a moral obligation to people less fortunate than us.

Then maybe your moral obligation should be to our own Homeless and Injured Veterans first! Think of that.

That's like saying - police shouldn't investigate car theft because banks are still being robbed.

Our society does provide support for the homeless and veterans. We can still help asylum seekers. They're not mutually exclusive.

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+29 #404 Lyn Hooper 2013-01-01 18:40

If we have 30 to 50 million people here , in this drought effected country, where we have built on so much of our farming land, where housing is unaffordable, where we r borrowing about $100 million aday to give away to others(who didnot stay and fight for their own rights , in their country)If we put others needs in front of our own countrymen, TELL ME WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD I CAN GO THAT THIS IS HAPPENING , I WOULD LOVE THAT DEAL, the politicians are a disgrace to say the absoute least of it all. I think of my grandfather who fought in 2 wars and came back shellshocked ,just what did they fight for, What did Eurkea stand for , we fought for unions to get better rights pay and conditions WHICH GAVE US WHAT WE have had..... now we just hand it all over to others. oh and forget the smith family, where r they on the list?..Last?

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+28 #403 cecily marker 2012-12-30 20:57

i believe the boat ppl are not genuine refugees and i the fact that some of them have housing in canberra within 2 years of coming out in a boat while i know of australians that have been waiting for over 4 years for housing...dont tell me they do not get special treatment... i believe my sons have to work 6 days a week to support their family and pay taxers for these ppl to be put first before australians..:(

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-7 #402 Caroline 2012-12-28 17:37

Quoting tahir:

I'm looking experienced lawyer for refugee case who can guide me for Australia and New Zealand. If any one lawyer available than plz mail me at tahir.ahmad.kgmail.com

I want to discuss in private.

Do you people even read these posts? It shows you how foolish some Australians really are. IDIOTS, if Aussie gets sucked dry, you deserve it, simply because of your foolishness.

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+42 #401 Caroline 2012-12-28 16:52

I'm from Africa, I came here through application & not as an Asylum seeker. As someone from Africa I can say that many "refugees" are looking for a free pass into a country with better financial benefit. Africa has a CULTURE of corruption, violence, rape, it's part of our CULTURE. I don't think Australia understands this.

If you come Goodna here in QLD, & Red Bank plains & Collingwood park, there are many refugees that are commiting some of the same crimes they "apparently ran away from" There are some real refugees yes, but many are not. So I ask, why does Australia allow "OPPORTUNITY SEEKERS" to use emotional blackmail upon the Austraian people. It comes down to ignorance, I'm afraid by the time we realise it will be too late.

How can Australian government promise us that refugees will pose no threat to public saftey? They can't, proof: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1717081/Sydney-Sudanese-football-day-marred-by-brawl

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+23 #400 Anor Savid 2012-12-28 14:28

Quoting lynette smith:

The refugees who can afford to pay to come by boat and "look" desperate for our help are getting far more help than the government is telling you Kochie. after the Australian taxpayers pay all their costs for them and they are given Visa/Residencies, These people are Given Houses and Vehicles plus all other Government entitlements. This information is TRUE. At present their are Refugees in W.A refusing to accept Townhouses (brand new at that) because they say they are entitled to 4 Bedroom Houses with big backyards. These people are entitled to NOTHING. I am sick and tired of giving in to these people with their demands for everything from housing to food to money to not being able to be a real Australian and enjoy my life like it was before they came here and all the doo-gooders said we have to kow tow to them.

David Koch did his research and provided links. Where's yours?

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+15 #399 Mrs Wirth 2012-12-28 09:43

They ARE given money ( CASH)before they are approved. They are given cash & free go cards. Then they tell their hosts they have no money. ! We of course know thats untrue. We are hosts

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+17 #398 Mrs Wirth 2012-12-28 09:39

KOCH

Dont believe everything your told or read. Take it from a host how awfully bad this programe is. They say they are let out on home detention into peoples houses- but they are free to go stay and do meet anybody they like- not come home and not tell their hosts where they are. They dont even have to have the manners to let hosts know they are not coming home.
We are told to give them a key to our houses! Thats not on. It makes our insurance non void and these people are strangers.

Oh and btw what an invitation to our enemies the AU gov are paying people to give them a room.
Who checks out the applications for the hosts you ask? A bunch of people with NO experience in that do only school kids home-stays.

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+5 #397 Tom 2012-12-24 13:19

Quoting lynette smith:

Quoting Malindi:

Well said Kochie - we've got a moral obligation to people less fortunate than us.

Then maybe your moral obligation should be to our own Homeless and Injured Veterans first! Think of that.

How do you know it's not already?

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+30 #396 Deeks 2012-12-22 13:34

I used to hav a lot of respect for kochie, just how many refugees should we accept out of curiosity? Fact: I know an Iraqi "refugee" who's family flew to Oz burnt their passports and claimed this status. The father was a colonel for Saddam they had lots of money that they continued to smuggle into Oz via Indonesia. Within three years of arriving they had three businesses, a mansion and drove a new merc. Phaf...the system is severely flawed. So again how many do you want us to take? Tell me how big is this life boat? Can we throw your family out to make room? The answer is simple, temporary status until we can help as a human family fix their home then send them back.

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0 #395 Jemima 2012-12-20 08:05

Thanks so much for posting this Kochie. I am so sick of getting emails/facebook posts that use the refugee issue as a scapegoat for other, completely unrelated issues such as low pensioner payments. Especially when the information that they contain is completely false. So many people I know simply forward or repost this misinformation without researching the real facts, and all it serves to do is to generate more hatred towards refugees, a group of people who are not really in a position to defend themselves. Thank you for being a decent and brave person.

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-8 #394 Tommy Reardon 2012-12-19 23:03

The British has created massive ethnic divisions around the world just to name the two major ones .. Pakistan,Bangla desh & India which was one country before.. and Israel & Palestine.. well I would call it Karma all the refugees have been coming there because you f...d up their country in the first place..

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+12 #393 Tommy Reardon 2012-12-19 22:48

Quoting van:

I'm on student visa. I spent $30000 behind my study. I been live in Australia 8 years and I still havnt got my residancy because government changes rule for overseas student and ppl who come by boat they get all advantage frm government.Even they don't know that how to speak English.

I am in ur case as well.. It's a big wrong that we students are being treated as cash cows and sometimes don't get the reward of our hard struggle.. we receive extremely little help in return .. but we cannot blame the refugees for our troubles..

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-17 #392 Tommy Reardon 2012-12-19 22:37

seems all the people in Australia who hate refugees are mostly women just saying.. by reading the comments.. just got me thinking.. Are women more racist than men..?

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