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bomen_guy

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Get it right
Jan 4^th, 2012 at 3:04am

Quote:

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.

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 Australia

- Media Blunders on asylum seeker claims

- Assistance for Asylum seekers in Australia - DIAC

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

http://www.kochie.com.au/20100713172/the-real-benefits-for-asylum-seekers-in-aus...

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____ Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 33410 Australia Gender:	Re: Get it right Reply #1 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 5:24am Fantastic post. Thank you for educating us all and hopefully stop some here from consciously / unconsciously spreading mis-information.
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Kat Gold Member Offline Socialism IS the answer. Posts: 17709 Everywhere and no-where Gender:	Re: Get it right Reply #2 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 5:29am ____ wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 5:24am: Fantastic post. Thank you for educating us all and hopefully stop some here from consciously / unconsciously spreading mis-information. It probably won't. None so blind, amd all that.......
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########## Ex Member	Re: Get it right Reply #3 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 6:03am Sadly I don't think the facts count- or will matter- to those that are against boat people. Those against asylum seekers will find any excuse and will continue to ignore the facts. Maybe, it makes them feel superior.
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cods

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Re: Get it right
Reply #4 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 8:39am

I am shocked that the few noble minded on here seem to think thats the half dozen that can be bothered with these sort of threads... actually make up the mindset of ALL AUSTRALIANS>

weird..

I think from my own point of view.. its the way they come in that is wrong..

and the so called bleeding hearts use that to twist it into a hate campaign. this also is WRONG.

I have personal experience through my daughter who owns an investment property that is now let to an Iraqi family.. the whole thing has been done through the immigration dept..they have paid for everything..they were told this family waited 3 years in Turkey and were processed there so on arrival here they were very well looked after..they went through the right channels..

there are right and wrong ways of going about things..and I think those of us that are against the back door approach have as much right to speak out without being called every damnation in the book.

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culldav

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Re: Get it right
Reply #5 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:20am

cods wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 8:39am:

I am shocked that the few noble minded on here seem to think thats the half dozen that can be bothered with these sort of threads... actually make up the mindset of ALL AUSTRALIANS>

weird..

I think from my own point of view.. its the way they come in that is wrong..

and the so called bleeding hearts use that to twist it into a hate campaign. this also is WRONG.

I have personal experience through my daughter who owns an investment property that is now let to an Iraqi family.. the whole thing has been done through the immigration dept..they have paid for everything..they were told this family waited 3 years in Turkey and were processed there so on arrival here they were very well looked after..they went through the right channels..

there are right and wrong ways of going about things..and I think those of us that are against the back door approach have as much right to speak out without being called every damnation in the book.

Many agree there is a right & wrong way to go about things, and these boat people are doing it all wrong and forcing Australians to accept their bad inappropriate behaviour. I would personally like to see all these boat people arrivals sent back to the departure destination regardless of their refugee claims in favor of the genuine people waiting in refugee camps around the world.

What disturbs me is that these boat people have deliberately and knowingly illegally hired the services of people smugglers to smuggle them into Australia knowing this was an illegal and criminal offense.

Therefore it begs the question as to what character these boat people are going to be bring into my country verses the character of other innocent refugees waiting patiently in camps to be relocated.

All the Australian Government has to do is legislate that any person arriving by boat will not be processed or accepted into Australia regardless of their claim, and will be sent elsewhere.

This will stop the people smuggler trade instantly!! and open the door for more genuine refugees to be accepted into Australia from the camps.

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Re: Get it right
Reply #6 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:35am

Quote:

•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.

..While being provided with food, board, ciggies, internet access. In fact, it's hard to see what expenses they incur at all - can't see too many unemployed or pensioners being able to save $400 a fortnight, as they have to pay for all of these things out of their own pocket.

Very deceptive Kochie. For shame.

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Doctor Jolly

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Re: Get it right
Reply #7 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:38am

culldav wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:20am:

All the Australian Government has to do is legislate that any person arriving by boat will not be processed or accepted into Australia regardless of their claim, and will be sent elsewhere.

This will stop the people smuggler trade instantly!! and open the door for more genuine refugees to be accepted into Australia from the camps.

Isnt that what the Malaysia solution is all about. Sends the boat person right back where they started from. Although this is a very harsh penalty, it seems to be about the only one that could "stop the boats."

Sending them to an "australian processing centre" in Nauru is not much different from processing them in Australia. If they fail to get Australian refugee status, there arent exactly going to be allowed to stay in Nauru ?

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Dnarever

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Re: Get it right
Reply #8 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:52am

Thanks.

While I am aware of most of that info I suspect it would be a surprise to a number here.

Funny thing is that although this info has been put up many times some of the people who comment on it will go back to posting the same foundless rubbish withing a week or two.

I think some like to say that refugees get more than pensioners even though they know it isn't true.

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Life_goes_on

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Re: Get it right
Reply #9 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:55am

... wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:35am:

Quote:

•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.

..While being provided with food, board, ciggies, internet access. In fact, it's hard to see what expenses they incur at all - can't see too many unemployed or pensioners being able to save $400 a fortnight, as they have to pay for all of these things out of their own pocket.

Very deceptive Kochie. For shame.

The Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme is not given to people in detention.

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Re: Get it right
Reply #10 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:57am

Life_goes_on wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:55am:

... wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:35am:

Quote:

•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.

..While being provided with food, board, ciggies, internet access. In fact, it's hard to see what expenses they incur at all - can't see too many unemployed or pensioners being able to save $400 a fortnight, as they have to pay for all of these things out of their own pocket.

Very deceptive Kochie. For shame.

The Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme is not given to people in detention.

So where are they while they are being processed?

just checked a link, and you are correct about hat:

Quote:

ASAS eligibility criteria
An asylum seeker may be eligible for ASAS if they have a valid application for a protection visa lodged with the department and where:

•the date of lodgement of the protection visa application is more than six months old and the applicant is waiting for a decision
•the date of lodgement of the protection visa application is less than six months old, the applicant is waiting for a decision and meets one of the ASAS exemption criteria
•the protection visa application was refused by the department and the applicant has lodged an application for review by the Refugee Review Tribunal and continues to meet the ASAS exemption criteria
•the applicant is not in immigration detention
•the applicant holds a visa
•the applicant is not be eligible for either Australian or overseas government income support.

So if it's not available to people in detention, then they're not even talking about boat people at all.

Still deceptive, though in a different way.

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« Last Edit: Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:02am by ... »

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Life_goes_on Gold Member Offline Posts: 4772 400kms south of Yobsville, Qld Gender:	Re: Get it right Reply #11 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:05am The Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme doesn't apply to people arriving by boat. It's only for people who have arrived with a visa who then seek a protection visa.
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cods

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Re: Get it right
Reply #12 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:09am

Dnarever wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 10:52am:

Thanks.

While I am aware of most of that info I suspect it would be a surprise to a number here.

Funny thing is that although this info has been put up many times some of the people who comment on it will go back to posting the same foundless rubbish withing a week or two.

I think some like to say that refugees get more than pensioners even though they know it isn't true.

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.

that $130 WEEK LESS DNA..JUST LESS CASH IN HAND.. WHAT ABOUT ALL THEIR MEDICAL BILLS?..oops sorry about caps..all the other Asylum Seekers Assistance Schemes...are also available to them....where does the ASAS get their money from????????

look all we are sayin gis 12000 have some to these shores via boats in 4 years...it doesnt matter what they are called.. they still came via people smugglers...

they are doing a damn sight better than they would be on their home soil.. and they are doing a lot better than those that wait their turn in the queues/camps that are all over the world.. and just dont have the money to buy a seat on a rickety boat.

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Re: Get it right
Reply #13 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:11am

Life_goes_on wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 11:05am:

The Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme doesn't apply to people arriving by boat. It's only for people who have arrived with a visa who then seek a protection visa.

Yep, though it is frustrating trying to find a straight answer on what people are eligible for while in detention. Most sources I can find say they are eligible for 'an undisclosed amount'. another common dodge is saying they are not eligible for centrelink benfits, while not saying that they ARE eligible for benefits from the DIAC.I did find this though:

Quote:

A FAMILY of four asylum-seekers living on Christmas Island in community detention receives up to $1000 a fortnight from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
DIAC spokesman Sandi Logan said 33 asylum-seekers who had undergone health and security checks were living in houses in the community while awaiting outcomes of their visa applications.

A further 40 asylum-seekers, mostly family groups, women, children and those with special needs, are in alternative detention while 193 single men are detained at the Christmas Island Detention Centre.

Women and children are not housed in the detention centre itself, and instead live in alternative detention called the construction camp near the Poon Saan neighbourhood on the island.

Mr Logan said adults in community detention were given $100 cash and $360 in store credit, which can be used at one of two local stores, a fortnight to buy food and other items.

A family of two adults and two children would receive $300 cash and $766 store credit each fortnight, which is administered by the Red Cross.

There were no figures available for the number of families on the island.

Those under the age of 18 who were deemed unaccompanied minors in community detention receive $50 a week and each household consisting of up to five minors, who are looked after by a carer, is given $900 a week for food and supplies.

Mr Logan said those on community detention had to cook and buy their own food.

"We can't put them out in community detention and let them starve," he said.

Some chose to save their money and buy luxury items including sunglasses and MP3 players, and were entitled to do so, Mr Logan said.

Inside the detention centre, detainees have 20 internet terminals.

"There is also a telephone available in each of the (eight) compounds and they are issued with a phone card each week to make phone calls, it could be to their representatives, to friends or to others ...," Mr Logan said.

The calls are unrestricted and include international calls.

Mr Logan said the detainees are encouraged to participate in activities and are rewarded for attending English classes and helping out in the detention centre.

The reward system has been in place for some time in Australian detention centres, Mr Logan said.

Detainees are free to move around the inside of the detention centre, often playing cricket and soccer on the oval, but have a night-time curfew when they go back to their single rooms.

The centre was built by the Howard government at a cost of $400 million and is located on the remote corner of Christmas Island, an Australian territory 2,600km northwest of Perth.

More than 200 people including 38 DIAC staff are on the island to support the centre.

More than 130 asylum-seekers picked up in the interception of four boats since Saturday, including two today, will also be taken to Christmas Island. It is not known when they will arrive on the island.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/asylum-seekers-receive-payments/story-e6frfku0-1225705217900#ixzz1iRnMMSqK

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Swagman

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Re: Get it right
Reply #14 - Jan 4^th, 2012 at 12:06pm

bomen_guy wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 3:04am:

Quote:

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.

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 Australia

- Media Blunders on asylum seeker claims

- Assistance for Asylum seekers in Australia - DIAC

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

http://www.kochie.com.au/20100713172/the-real-benefits-for-asylum-seekers-in-aus...

Actually they are suspected illegal entrants until they set foot in a migration zone and then they are 'unlawful non-citizens' until proven otherwise.

The issue at hand which the activist propaganda cited fails to mention is that apart from the 'unlawful' means of entry the act of smuggling people past immigration controls is very dangerous and as seen recently deadly.

To apply for asylum and all the benefit therein a non-citizen needs to set foot in a migration zone. The people traffickers know this, which is exactly why they demand high payments to transport people to the mainland, Xmas Island & Ashmore Reef territories would be easier, but because they are NOT AUST MIGRATION ZONES the mainland is targetted.

Territories such as Xmas Island & Ashmore Reef etc have therefore been excised from the Australian migration zone not to demonise asylum seekers as lying activists claim but to deter the unlawfull trafficking of non-citizens into Australia.

Hence the policy of off-shore processing where Asylum Seeker's bonifides can be verified without all the ambulance chasers like Burnside abusing the Australian legal system and choking the courts with never ending litigation and appeals.

Migration Law was enacted for many reasons. Regulating who enters the country is common sense. Flouting the law is unacceptable.

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