The sum value of 69,000 cheques will be small compared with the wealth to eventually go off-shore when Australia region dividends are paid to manufacturers' head offices in Japan and South Korea. Albeit, the stimulis should keep the Retail sector bouyant.

While "Buy Australian" is protectionist and open international markets are preferred in poor economic times, this current short-term stimulus is best limited to keep people in jobs, unless Japan and Korean et al provide contra a stimulus to our markets, as we are (indirectly)supporting their manufacturing sector (via profit repatriation). Both sides need to be open for the true Market system to work.

Recipients reducing household debt is not the Government's preferred option, yet debt reduction means paying less interest on principal debt, not merely the principal itself. Taking $1,000 of a credit debt will save the creditor several thousands of dollars to the Banks in the longer term. (The effect of paying a high interest rates and a minimum balance means the debt is paid back to the Bank many times over

Oh dear oh dear;
To make matters worse she gave the lame excuse that the government was
tied to the international pension agreement.
It is not a pension payment but a one off payment to people, some of
whom happen to be pensioners.

Is this the quality of ministers ?
I can understand a mistake which could be corrected by stopping the cheques.
But to give such a pathetic excuse just made it worse.

Oh my gord, you couldn't make it up !

Tax bonus
Am I eligible?
Temporary residents
If you were an Australian resident for tax purposes for the 2007-08 financial year, and you meet all the other eligibility criteria, you will receive the tax bonus payment. It does not matter whether you were here on a temporary resident visa or not.
Deceased estates
If a person dies after 30 June 2008 and an income tax return for the 2007-08 year has been lodged by them or on their behalf before 30 June 2009, a tax bonus payment will be made to the deceased estate provided all of the eligibility criteria is met.
http://www.ato.gov.au/corporate/content.asp?doc=/content/00178930.htm&page=2&H2

69,000. poor pensions could of done with this money ,me being one of them , i haven;t had a decent feed in years ,after i pay my bills im living on scaps from the day before , thats right us pensions are being treat like stray animals ,get a feed when we can , and fight to get justice for the abuse we suffered as children while in state care as a child in new south wales , how corupt is our goverment ,sure the 69,000.cheques , are not been sent to the same bank address with the same account name , for the same person

It is clear some do not understand the distribution of these so called economic stimulus packages.
Round one, already given went to parents and pensioners, this farce of sending money over seas appears to be related to that.
After all round two checks only went out this week.
Round two did include payments for children, $950 dollars each child.
It also[ next month] will see those earning $100.000 or less get on a sliding scale, a handout.
I will get one, and spend it on Australian made goods.
Now we need to get our heads around this, while aiming to help the poor government wants us to spend it, most will.
It has already had an impact on sales and it will have another.
If we followed opposition[are they worthy to be called that?] policy and spent it on a work creation scheme.
Say water? how long would it take to recirculate the money?
It will fix nothing but it will help, both the economy and some truly poor people.
rechtub your point is noted but while true I wonder why we dismiss this women, the thousands of them like this?
Her children are ours too.
Foxy, my hurt and pain comes because it was wrong, possible an accident, but a lady not known for thinking should have said sorry.
should have told the Truth, should have seen it never happened.
My party first thoughts are the best, not a cover up, not a lie but removal from the front bench now forever.

worse still Belly, reports today that the dead have received payment too. Maybe this was a reward to those deceased who have faithfully voted ALP #1 all these years? Kevin Rudd, spend early spend often.