100K KIWIS FLEE HAUNTED HOUSE
Canberra turns back on 107,570 out-of-work Kiwis
BROKE, jobless and heartbroken, Robyn Munro says boarding a plane to New Zealand after calling the Gold Coast home for 14 years made her feel “absolutely worthless”.
“It’s incredibly heartbreaking,” said the 61-year-old, through tears from Christchurch.
“I’ve worked in Australia and paid taxes for nearly 15 years and my life, my friends and everything I own was there.”
Ms Munro is one of 107,570 New Zealand citizens who have fled Australia since March this year, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics provisional data on international travel.
It is estimated the majority of Kiwis who left were forced to leave their homes, children and friends because they were not entitled to financial support from the Australian Government.
Most departures were in March, with 87,620 leaving during the height of the global pandemic. But in the past three months, 11,330 New Zealand citizens returned to their homeland, pointing to the fact that Kiwis – some of whom have paid tax in Australian for nearly 20 years – are struggling to buy food, find a job or pay rent.
Ms Munro, who works in aged care, had been looking for work since she finished her job in September 2019. During that time she was not entitled to Centrelink payments, but when COVID hit she was eligible for JobSeeker for six months because, despite being a New Zealand citizen, she has lived in Australia for more than 10 years.
However, once the payment stopped and she had to compete for work with Gold Coasters, the majority of whom were 40 years her junior, life turned grim.
“Over the years I’ve volunteered in the Tweed area, cooking meals for the homeless and I was at that point where I almost ended up homeless myself,” she said.
“If I hadn’t left I would’ve been in a position where I was sleeping in a car, without actually having any money to be able to run the car.”
Ms Munro, formerly of Parkwood, left Australia at the start of October and is now trying to rebuild a life for herself despite not having a home or her belongings.
“Over the year I’ve done many things, including driving a truck, because when you’re a single mother of five you do whatever you can to put bread and butter on the table.”
Lack of support from the Australian Government had made her feel “absolutely worthless” and she hoped her story would resonate with others.
“Lots of Aussies aren’t aware that we’re not entitled to anything and they’re shocked, with many trying to
do what they can to help us because their leaders won’t.
“Governments are quick to mention the Anzac spirit but from where I’m standing, it feels like it doesn’t exist.”
Nerang Neighbourhood Centre co-ordinator Vicky Rose has joined the ALP to fight for a direct pathway to citizenship for Kiwis.
Most of the 300,000 New Zealanders who migrated to Australia after February 26, 2001, do not and will not qualify for social security benefits, despite paying taxes, because
of limited visa streams and strict criteria, with one visa requiring annual earnings of at least $53,900 (about $1036 a week) for four consecutive years. The minimum wage in Australia is around $39,197 or $753.80 a week.
Income tax from Kiwis in Australia was about $5 billion in 2015 alone. Other internationals in Australia on permanent visas are eligible for support in times of crisis.
Australians are not excluded from Social Security support in New Zealand.