FULL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO AUSTRALIANS

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1949, Page 5

FULL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO AUSTRALIANS

Reciprocity Arrangements (Rec. 11.30) CANBERRA, March 23. Reciprocity between Australia and New Zealand in social services is to be greatly extended, said the Minister of Health, Senator’ McKenna today. Mr McKenna to-day conferred with the New Zealand Minister of Social Security, the Hon. W. E. Parry on the final aspects of an agreement for reciprocity which is expected to be completed and signed shortly. The existing agreement covers age and invalid pensions, but the new agreement will extend to widows’ pensions, child endowment, and unemployment and sickness benefits. The corresponding benefits in New Zealand are to be included. In addition to age and invalid benefits there will be widows’ benefits, family benefits, and unemployment and sickness benefits.

Mr McKenna said that, under the new agreement, the citizens of either country who take up permanent residence in the other, will be given an entitlement to the social service benefits on the same basis as the citizens of that country, and, for this purpose, residence in one country will count as residence in the other.

People going from one country to the other for temporary residence, will continue to receive any benefits they were receiving in their own country. The home country will continue to provide the benefits of these temporary periods, but the actual payments will be made on an agency basis by the country in which the person is emporarily residing.