[BITList] NEW migrants should get taxpayer subsidies to visit overseas relatives, an Islamic group has told the Federal Government.

[franka]

*Think this is an excellent idea as long as its only a one way trip, 
shades of Enoch Powell
frank



NEW migrants should get taxpayer subsidies to visit overseas relatives, 
an Islamic group has told the Federal Government. *

The Islamic Women's Welfare Association also says Muslims prefer to live 
close to their own people and Australia should consider how to 
"facilitate the purchase of homes for new migrants"In a submission to a 
federal multicultural inquiry, the association has urged the Government 
to give tax deductions to newly arrived migrants so they can visit 
relatives in their homelands.

"Migrants face a lot of sacrifices such as having to travel long 
distances to visit relatives, spending on communication costs, missing 
out on some events occurring in native countries etc," the submission said.

"This loss should be compensated by the Government in one way or the 
other to retain migrants in their country of adoption."


Victorian Muslim and president of the Australian Council of Bosnian 
Organisations Senada Softic-Telalovic said while some help might be 
justified for needy refugees who had to go overseas to settle their 
affairs, she didn't support travel compensation for all newcomers.

That type of argument will bring out further outrage from those who are 
so anti-migrant and so anti-multiculturalism," she said. Ms 
Softic-Telalovic said that Australia was seen as an ideal migration 
destination and new arrivals shouldn't take the country for granted.

"Migrants and refugees who come out now are in a significantly better 
position and you could say a more privileged position than those who 
came out in the 1970s," she said.

Victorian Multicultural and Citizenship Minister Nick Kotsiras said tax 
breaks for migrant trips abroad was a ridiculous idea.

"We are all equal and no one should get special privileges," he said.

The Islamic welfare association is based in Lakemba, Sydney, which has 
one of the highest Muslim populations in Australia.

Its submission also said that migrants should be free to build their own 
places of worship "without prejudice or discrimination from the 
communities they live (in)".

Read more: 
http://www.news.com.au/national/pay-for-our-trips-home-the-islamic-womens-welfare-associatio/story-e6frfkvr-1226269206838#ixzz1mBCAoJXy
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