Budget 2017: Foreign citizens get $15bn in welfare

ABOUT 870,000 non-citizens living in Australia are claiming $15 billion a year in welfare benefits, according to a new analysis.

Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm requested the analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office. Picture: AAP.

ABOUT 870,000 non-citizens, mostly from Britain, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East, are claiming $15 billion a year in welfare benefits, according to new analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

The Australian reports that the analysis, requested by Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm, estimated that 710,000 non-citizens claimed an average $17,500 each annually in welfare, totalling 83 per cent of the $15bn total.

“At present, around 2.5 million (non-citizens) live in Australia and are eligible for welfare,” said Senator Leyonhjelm.

David Leyonhjelm in Senate Question Time in the Senate Chamber, Parliament House. Picture: Supplied.

“While I believe refugees should continue to be eligible for welfare to help them find their feet, the vast majority of non-citizens are not refugees and should not require handouts.”

Senator Leyonhjelm said limiting welfare to citizens “will discourage those with poor job prospects from coming to Australia, and will build support for immigration within the Australian community.”

Social security and welfare is the largest area of government spending, projected to grow from $158.6bn this financial year to $191bn by 2020.

Read more at The Australian.