John has just revised the BERIA factsheet on Aged Care to take into account the changes which came into effect on 20 March.

The changes apply to those who enter aged care homes after 20 March, and the main fee changes are as follows:

The Basic Daily Care Fee for self-funded retirees (including 410 visa holders) for both low and high care homes is now fixed at 85% of the annual single basic age pension. This equates to $32.05 a day (this is a reduction from the previous cost of $39.28 a day!).

The Income-Tested Daily Fee is based on a sliding scale based on income over $684.60 a fortnight. If your income is below $684.60 a fortnight ($17,800 a year) there's no income-tested daily fee, but if it's over that there's a sliding scale up to a maximum of $56.57 a day (the old maximum was $55.28).

The "allowable assets" amount has increased from $33,500 to $34,500 – this is used to calculate the accommodation bond for low care homes. The upper income limit for calculating the sliding scale accommodation charge for high care homes has increased to $90,410, and the maximum accommodation charge has increased to $26.88 a day.

The maximum daily fee for short-term respite care in government funded aged care homes has increased from $30.77 to $32.05 a day. All these changes have been included in the new version of the factsheet, and new example costs have also been included.

John says he still cannot speak too highly of staff of the Aged and Community Care Information Line – everyone he has spoken to there in the course of the research has been incredibly helpful, friendly and knowledgeable, and if anyone needs further information after reading the factsheet he recommends contacting the Information Line. Actual revised factsheet to follow.

To find the factsheet go to the 410 Useful files, or click here, or log in and go to the BERIA Files

Jenny McLean reports:

Our 6th Sydney lunch today was very successful with 24 410'ers attending.

We have now met over 40 members at the various lunches, but of course not all can manage to attend every lunch. It is a great way to get to now each other and exchange views.

(A good time seems to have been had by all; and the food looks good, too! Barbara)

If you need to look up a telephone number either here or in the UK, then you can find the appropriate link to the White Pages websites on the LINKS page of this website, under the heading OTHER USEFUL LINKS.

The following media release can be found here on the Liberal Party Website. For confidentiality, please make any comments you have on the Members Only page of this website.

Barbara

Tue, 29th April 2008

Temporary Retirement 410 Visa holders

Senator the Hon Christopher Ellison
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate

Temporary Retirement 410 Visa holders should be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

The Coalition Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Ellison today called on the Rudd Government to enable Temporary Retirement 410 Visa holders to apply for permanent residency.

Many 410 Visa holders are highly skilled yet they are restricted to just 20 hours of work per week due to the restrictions on their temporary visa.

“As permanent residents there will no restrictions on workforce participation and this will be of benefit to the labour market, the Australian economy and individual,” said Senator Ellison.

A number of these visa holders have a strong involvement in community and volunteer activities. Again the nature of the visa restricts the number of hours that the individual can commit. Some of these visa holders have been recognised for their service to volunteer fire fighting and ambulance services.

“Individuals with such a strong commitment to the community should not be restricted in the contribution they can make, it is also fitting that we acknowledge their commitment to our nation,” said Senator Ellison.

“Having lived in Australia for several years these visa holders have a strong commitment to our nation and wish to live in Australia for the remainder of their lives as a permanent resident, not a temporary visa holder who is subject to the uncertainty visa renewal requirements,” said Senator Ellison.

Currently persons who reside in Australia on a Temporary Retirement 410 Visa are unable to apply for permanent residency. This is a small group of people with a high commitment to Australia who are restricted in the contribution they can make to our nation as result of being unable to apply for a permanent visa.

This is just to let you know that John's full report of the forum is on the Member's Only page of this website.

Sharryn Jackson, the Hon. Chris Evans, Nita and David Sadler

Notes from the BERIA Meeting with the Minister for Immigration, Senator Chris Evans (8 April 2008)

Chris Evans confirmed he is keen to find a “pathway to citizenship” for 410 visa holders, and that the cost issue, as seen by the Treasury, is the main hurdle.  He seemed impressed by BERIA as an effective lobbying group, with an increasing and dedicated membership that “seems to be in evidence everywhere I go”.

Chris clarified the issue of a permanent visa with a separate set of conditions (eg the maintenance of private health insurance) saying that he had agreed with the advice from his Department that that permanent residence should offer the same benefits to all, and not differentiate any particular group.

I added information about the changes in the tax rules which had been raised in a previous meeting he had with AIR last week.  We understand that the changes apply to all temporary visa holders, and that while we can provide detailed estimates of additional potential tax income (using BERIA database information) we would expect him to use this, and any other information we might be able to provide on financial benefits, only as part of our case to offset or minimise the potential health and welfare costs, and not in isolation.  Initial very crude estimates are in the region of $47 to $50 million a year but this is likely to be a conservative figure.

On potential health costs ($40 million a year?) I assured him that we had had a 100% response to continuing with health insurance in the event of permanent residence which will significantly reduce the overall figure, and also gave him figures on those who wanted to join the workforce and work more than 20 hours a week (and details of their job skills and qualifications – many of which are in the list of jobs in demand). 

Chris saw no logic in the work restrictions, and promised to look into these, as he saw any additions to the workforce as a positive benefit to Australia. Chris has already proposed to the Treasury minor enhancements to the visa which may ease a couple of the visa conditions, although he stressed that the proposals may not be approved, and would, in any case, be minor.  While we appreciate any improvements in the short term, our main aim is permanent residence, and hope that his proposals for enhancements are seen as part of the wider process of assessing the possibility of permanent residence!

We still have more work to do on private health insurance and on welfare costs, and on the phasing in of costs.  BERIA at this stage is not making proposals for permanent residence based on a specific qualifying period, but would be prepared to discuss a range of options.  If a qualifying period were to become a requirement, additional research from the BERIA database will highlight the impact this might have on spreading the costs over a period of time, as we have accurate figures on age groups and length of residence in Australia. 

Chris seemed fairly impressed by the detail and accuracy and availability of the data he has received from us so far, and will continue to query the latest figures on 410 visa holders in the country which seem to have reversed the previous downward trend since the closure of the visa to new applicants three years ago.

Conclusion & Next Steps

• The campaign for permanent residence will continue to be an uphill struggle, especially with the Treasury, but today’s meeting was a very positive and constructive one, and moved things forward in a practical way, identifying and agreeing clearly defined next steps.

·         Chris explained that his plan is to have enough information to present a case for permanent residence for 410 visa holders prior to next year’s Budget. 

·         We will provide him with a detailed assessment of potential costs, together with any compensating income and other benefits, including specific cost projections based on data from official sources, and income projections based on accurate and verifiable information from the BERIA database.

·         We will seek a follow up meeting with him to discuss these figures and the next steps.

John Wittering

8 April 2008

In the top photo is a photo of the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Special Minister of State John Faulkner facing the community. (AAP Image: Dave Hunt)

Ava Hubble wrote to me yesterday to tell me that her article is now been published; many of you would have seen it in this week's Weekly Telegraph and the Telegraph on line

You may recall that earlier on this year Ava approached me about writing an article about the cost of parents being reunited with their children here in Australia and she then discovered that many of them come here on the 410 visa, hence she then took on board all the effects that had on their emigration.