Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern pushes Scott Morrison on Kiwi welfare
Jacinda Ardern has called for New Zealanders in Australia to be allowed to access welfare during the virus outbreak.
Jacinda Ardern has called on Scott Morrison to allow New Zealanders in Australia to access welfare benefits during the coronavirus outbreak.
It comes as the federal government moved to include full-time students on welfare payments and increased jobseeker payments as part of its new coronavirus stimulus measures.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the New Zealand Prime Minister said she had raised the issue of welfare for New Zealand citizens with Scott Morrison.
"I have specifically sought, 'could we have a short-term exemption?' Just for these exceptional circumstances to be supported," she said.
"Not least because it will encourage compliance at a time when we need everyone to be self-isolating."
An online petition, with more than 100,000 signatures, is also calling on the Australian government to reinstate welfare payments for New Zealand citizens who live in Australia during the coronavirus outbreak.
“There is a relatively small number of Kiwis living in Australia who have found themselves suddenly out of work because of the COVID-19 outbreak and consequential shutdowns,” it reads.
“Many of us cannot simply uproot our lives here and head back to NZ. We have families, we are part of our communities.”
Since February 2001, only New Zealanders who hold permanent residency or Australian citizenship are eligible for the full range of social security payments.
New Zealand health authorities have confirmed 155 cases of the virus, but no related deaths. Ms Ardern has warned that the window for New Zealanders trying to travel home was closing.
“Going forward there will be people who we simply won’t even through our best efforts be able to bring home,”
The country’s foreign affairs minister Winston Peters has advised citizens stuck overseas to make arrangements to stay safe where they are until the crisis is over.
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