The NZ media is at it again with their portrayal of people who move to Australia

New Zealand citizens have been moving to Australia for decades and decades.  As you all know, in 2001 the Howard Government decided that too many Kiwis were coming over, receiving welfare and basically bludging off the Government.  Up until then the Government allowed Kiwis to move over and claim welfare immediately under a Closer Economic Relations agreement the trans Tasman nations have with eachother.

Since then, Kiwis have still be able to move over and live and work indefinitely.  Kiwis can still claim Medicare and they can still get some family welfare payments.

The Government has been lobbied for the last few years by the New Zealand media through articles and through politicians themselves, primarily those on the left.

Every time the argument comes up there is one thing that is always at the forefront of the debate - that Kiwis work, pay taxes yet can't get welfare.

Before I proceed further, I am a New Zealand citizen leaving in Australia.  I call myself a New Zealand citizen because I consider myself Australian without the citizenship, that I'm Australian in every way other than legally.

Anyway, enough about me, the New Zealand Government and ex pat Kiwis who come over to Australia say the same thing time and time again, "I want welfare, why can't I get welfare?"

As a legal New Zealand citizen this makes me incredibly frustrated because it portrays us as bludgers.  It portrays us as only wanting to come to Australia for what we can get from the country.  It makes us look like we don't really care about the country or its people, that we just want to take take take.

Here's the thing folks; some of us just want the right to vote, to participate in democracy and yet we are unable to.

The TV3 article which prompted this blog post was about welfare, and nowhere, not once did it mention voting.  Not once did it mention loyalty to Australia.  Not once did it mention that people wanted to make Australia their permanent home.  It was all about money and welfare and what they could get out of the country and some of those interviewed even said that they were going to go back to New Zealand at some point.

I have to ask the question, why oh why does the New Zealand media insist on portraying us all as bludgers?  Why oh why are they forgetting the ANZAC spirit and why oh why do they think that NZ citizens don't truly care about Australia?

The sad reality is that many people actually genuinely don't care about Australia and many people who come over here don't have loyalty to this country.....they are the ones who ruin it for the honest ones who emigrated for the right reasons - for a better life, for opportunities.

If we aren't going to give to the Australian economy, then maybe Australia should actually just shut the door permanently and axe the 444 Special Category Visa.  If New Zealand citizens aren't going to show some appreciation to Australia, why should the Government keep supporting us?

I say this as someone very loyal to Australia, who is counting down the days until I can apply for my permanent residency, and I say it as someone who thinks that Kiwis need to really consider things before they move over here.  If they aren't going to be loyal to this great nation, the best nation on earth, why should the Australian Government keep giving?

On the other hand, as a New Zealand citizen who desperately wants my Australian citizenship I find the rules very unfair and I'm very disappointed that the Howard Government granted Man Haron Monis citizenship when it was clear that he posed a threat, yet honest NZ citizens have to jump through hoops.  It's hardly fair.

And it's hardly fair that the New Zealand media, NZ Government and the NZ public keep on missing the point about what's important.  It isn't getting welfare.  It's the right to vote.  It's participating and integrating as a true Australian citizen.