Rockdale the unofficial capital of welfare rorting: Locals insist this is a ‘surprise’

ROCKDALE has just been declared the unofficial capital of Centrelink rorting, but local residents say this can’t possibly be true.

• Welfare frauds stealing $5 billion of taxpayers’ money
• Annual welfare bill to hit $277 billion over next ten years
• Aussie welfare cheats are cheating us all

THERE are three things one is likely to get in Rockdale: black coffee so thick you’ll need a whisk; a baklava so tasty you’ll disown your own mother for a tray; and just lately, a lot of suspicion.

Because Rockdale, that clash of cultures and heady mix of post-1950s European immigration, has just been declared the unofficial capital of Centrelink rorting, home to a heathen of welfare cheats whose collective attempts to swindle the taxpayer has been so profound, the entire suburb has been red-flagged by the federal government for closer inspection.

As reported exclusively by The Daily Telegraph last week, more than 800 cases of overpayment or suspected criminal fraud totalling $2.2 million were discovered in the Rockdale area during a recent audit, with 36 criminal investigations under way.

On the streets of Rockdale, where Macedonian bakers work alongside Lebanese sweet shop owners and beside jovial Greek grocers, news of the suburb’s new ill-repute was met with the same heaviness as the pronouncement of a third Balkan War.

And the fingerpointing started, in earnest.

Suspicion walked its way up Walz St, sat down for a puff on a hookah pipe, and set up camp, eyes darting at any folk that strolled by.

Who were these selfish welfare cheats giving our suburb a bad name?

Certainly not me.

Such was the common refrain when The Telegraph came to chat.

George Ristov should know. The Macedonian-born electrician is a piece of furniture in Walz St, having bunkered down in Rockdale for 26 years. It wouldn’t be the Macedonians, he surmises. Or the Greeks, a generous thing for a Macedonian to say.

Macedonian-born George Ristov in Rockdale / Picture: Richard Dobson

Instead he points to “the other side of the train tracks”, where the “newcomers” have lodged. The Indians and the Pakistanis, he says, without qualification.

The Macedonian community was “hardworking” and filled with “honest” people. It couldn’t be them, although he did concede their ranks are filled with people on the disability pension.

“I can tell you 80 or 90 per cent are genuine people with disabilities,’’ he said.

Bill Saravinovski is the mayor in this town, a position he’s had for a decent stint, off and on. He should know what’s going on.

“Massive surprise to me,’’ he said on hearing the news of Rockdale’s welfare shame.

“As far as I can see, Rockdale is just like any other suburb. Sure, we seem to have a lot more pawn shops, but other than that, everything is normal here,’’ he said.

“I’ve asked my staff to get a breakdown on the nationalities (involved in welfare cheating). We’ve got a lot of new Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in the area, which is good for Rockdale.’’

A prominent community member, who wished not to give his name, said he had his suspicions about welfare cheating. And yes, they centred on a particular ethnic group; but perhaps more long-term residents who had a history of “clever” dealings with money.

Rockdale mother-of-two Marisa Magiros said she supported the concept of welfare, but the high numbers of misuse were frustrating.

“We are a wealthy country so we should support those who are not, but I guess if there is rorting then that’s not great,” she said.

Her partner Jason Groarke went further: “It’s unfair when it’s just being taken by people who don’t ­deserve it,” he said.

So until the feds come sweeping through with a broom, all who grace this cultural wonderland will be under the collective suspicion of the masses.

Local residents Jason Groarke and Marisa Magiros with their children Will (4) and Jack (2) / Picture: Richard Dobson