Gold Coast NZ citizen Robyn Munro forced to leave as Australian Government denies benefits to Kiwis in COVID crisis

A Kiwi woman, 61, who fled her Gold Coast home after 14 years is just one of 100,000 New Zealand citizens forced to leave Australia with a sour taste in their mouths.

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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.”

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Former Gold Coast resident Robyn Munro (centre) has had to move back to NZ after living in Australia for 14 years because she could not find a job during COVID and isn't entitled to any financial support in Australia. She’s pictured at the Palm Beach Surf Club with friends she’s had to leave behind.

Ms Munro is one of 107,570 New Zealand citizens who have fled Australia since March this year, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provisional data on international travel.

It’s estimated the majority of Kiwis who left were forced to leave their homes, children and friends because they aren’t entitled to financial support from the Australian Government.

The largest chunk of departures was in March, with 87,620 leaving during the height of the global pandemic.

But in the past three months, 11,330 New Zealand citizens had returned to their homeland, pointing to the fact that Kiwis — some who’ve paid tax in Australian for nearly 20 years — are struggling to put food on their table, get a job or pay their rent.

Ms Munro, who works in aged care, had been looking for work since she finished up her job in September 2019. During this time she was not entitled to Centrelink payments.

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Robyn Munro, a 61-year-old New Zealand citizen, has been forced to leave the Gold Coast because the country she has paid taxes in for 14 years won’t provide any financial support.

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, Ms Munro said life was grim.

“I would have picked fruit just to earn some money and be able to stay in Australia, but I don’t think that my body would have been up to it,” she said.

“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.

“If I hadn’t have 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.

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Robyn Munro says she felt worthless having to leave Australia after living here for 14 years and not being able to get a job. Now she has to start again in NZ.

“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.”

Ms Munro said the lack of support from the Australian Government 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 at the drop of a hat, 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 nearly 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.

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Nerang Neighbhourhood Centre co-ordinator Vicky Rose is joining the ALP party to fight for a pathway for citizenship for Kiwis. Picture: Tertius Pickard

This is because of the limited visa streams and strict criteria Australia offers New Zealanders, with one visa requiring annual earnings of at least $53,900 (about $1036 a week) each year for four consecutive years (exemptions may apply).

Currently the minimum wage in Australia is around $39,197 or $753.80 per week.

Ms Rose said despite a will by most Kiwis to become a permanent resident and/or Australian citizen, a large chunk will never qualify.

Income tax from Kiwis in Australia was about $5 billion in 2015 alone. Other internationals living and working in Australia on permanent visas are eligible for supports in times of crisis.

Australians are not excluded from Social Security support in New Zealand and can access benefits after two years of living in New Zealand without any visa applications or paperwork.

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