The Australian government has paid cash bonuses to 16,000 dead people as part of the multi-billion dollar stimulus package designed to kick-start the economy during the global recession officials have revealed.
According to AFP the Australian Tax Office said the 16,000 deceased – termed “the grateful dead” by local media received payments of up to 900 dollars (700 US) each earlier this year, costing an estimated 14 million dollars.
The payments were part of a 42 billion-dollar stimulus package passed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government in February that gave cash handouts to all eligible Australians who lodged a tax return last financial year.
The so-called “manna from Kevin” aimed to get cash registers around the country ringing as a means of cushioning the economy from the impact of the global downturn.
However, thousands of the seven million-plus taxpayers who received the payments have died since lodging their returns, creating what the conservative opposition described as an embarrassment for the centre-left government.
Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull, who has accused the government of reckless spending that will saddle future generations with huge debts, questioned how dead people could stimulate the economy.
“It just demonstrates the absurdity of this cash splash,” he told reporters.
Rudd accused the opposition of exploiting dead people to make a political point.
“I think we just need to show a bit of respect here,” he told reporters.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said anomalies such as paying the dead were unavoidable when implementing such a huge program and it was “ludicrous” to suggest authorities could have checked on the health of every recipient.
Tanner also said the posthumous payments would not be wasted as they would eventually find their way into the economy.
“Even where they go to people who are dead, they go to the estate (which) typically is going to consist of ordinary Australians who will in turn get the payments … and over time spend them,” he said.
Other related articles:
- ‘Dead’ Baby Elephant Comes To Life at Australian Zoo. - A baby elephant pronounced dead has surprised experts by being...
- Australia’s War Dead Finally Return Home - 40 years after they went missing, the remains of two...
- Australia’s New Population Minister Defends Immigration Role - Will the Population Minister take over from the Australian Immigration...
Love Australia? Let us keep you informed...
- Join the Embrace Australia community today. Have your questions answered by our experts, start your own blog, get vital migration information and gain valuable insight from those who have already made the journey.
- Subscribe to our RSS Feed and have all our daily news and features delivered straight to your news reader.
- Join our mailing list -
