I would love to know when it became accepted that Australia was
an extension of New Zealand? When I was younger I used to
think the advantages Kiwis have in this country as opposed to
other nationalities was really unfair, and still do. Having
a friend in Hong Kong constantly knocked back for immigration
(prior to the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong) who spoke 3
languages fluently and was a court stenographer, so definitely
could have gotten a job ASAP and been a productive member of
Australian society from arrival seemed harsh. Particularly
when this was at a time when kiwis could get the dole more easily
and you had housefuls of young blokes surfing while on the dole
(we had one living next to us). So it really got up my nose
that Kiwis got this preferential treatment and they sure as hell
did not have a future to be scared of?
Reading the Courier Mail this morning really made my blood boil,
particularly some of the comments on “Anti-Discrimination Commissioner warns
law change for New Zealanders could create 'second
class'”. Basically, the Government is not allowing “New
Zealand citizens who have been living here for years of any right
to claim discrimination if they are denied disability support or
other government services.” Seriously? That has not
always been the law?
Don’t get me wrong, I feel for any family that has a disabled
child, it is hard and can be heart-wrenching. What I don’t
comprehend is how someone from another country, who is NOT a
citizen of this country, feels that they are hard done by because
they cannot access all the benefits of this country and can
accuse us of discrimination? If Kiwis had this benefit
prior to this law change, isn’t it actually discrimination
against every other nationality that is living here as residents
or on working visas who don’t have access to that? Why are
Kiwis so special? Hell, I did not even know that there was
a “New Zealander’s Rights Advocate”, but yep, there is. Mr
David Faulkner is suggesting “The amendment runs the risk of
infuriating the New Zealand community to the point where we will
launch sizeable class actions against the State”. Yep,
Non Citizens are threatening to sue the state of Queensland
because they want the same rights as citizens, BUT, without being
citizens of Australia? How does that work? I don’t
know about you, but I find that really insulting!
Oddly, there are comments below the article calling the amendment
‘racist’, not sure how it is racist, worse, it is also
‘apartheid’, again, seriously?, then we have the old
chestnut ‘we pay taxes’... Yep, so do the other
nationalities who live here who don’t get the same ‘special’
treatment Kiwis do! There are people dying in boats to come
to this country to have a better life. Having lived in New
Zealand for a few years, I know for a fact there is nothing wrong
with the country, (actually rare to meet a kiwi who doesn’t tell
you how wonderful NZ is LOL!) there is actually no need for a New
Zealander to move to Australia at all? It is a
CHOICE! With most choices, you accept the consequences of
those choices. Kiwis will whinge that costly and time
consuming to become an Australia citizen. Really?
Hundreds of Thousands of others around the world would be happy
to have that cost & time consumption.
Queenslanders are waiting long enough to get any help with a
disabled kid and it is only going to get worse, so why the hell
should they wait even longer so that a Non-Australian can get
that assistance? New Zealand is not a 3rd world country, it
does not have civic unrest, it is not in economic meltdown, so
why the hell do you have to move to Australia? If you do
move to Australia, then why the hell do you think that you have
the same rights as an Australia, without citizenship?
Australia is a SEPERATE country to New Zealand, not an extension
of it and you are a guest here if you choose to live here without
becoming an Australian, your taxes are the payment for you being
ABLE to be a guest here. As first stated, It is YOUR CHOICE
to be here Bro, and unlike a lot of other nationalities in this
world who would like to live here, you actually do have a
choice! Asylum seekers would love your 'poor hard done by
kiwi living in Australia' worries?
PS: For anyone who is going to start tossing the
‘you don’t understand’ tag at me... My Husband was born in
Christchurch NZ, he is an Australian citizen. He laughed
watching all the grade 12 kids rushing to get Citizenship in
November so they could get HECS at Uni. He is also
disgusted at the ridiculous assertions made by kiwis in this
article, a few pearlers for you below...
“If I can’t have the same as other Australians I want
to pay less tax”; “maybe all kiwis should take a sick
day on the same day that would get the message
through”; “why pick on Kiwis?”; “Nothing
but racial marginalization”, Seriously? All of NZ is a
race now?; “We may all pack up and leave. And your precious
beautiful country would come to a dead stop.”; “kiwis on
average work harder, earn more and pay more tax than your average
austalian”, sure, go ahead and insult us, that will endear
us to supporting your ‘discrimination’ claim? The dribble
goes on...
