Recently our government hired a 747 to get 'citizens' out of Egypt, there was no mention of payment by the passengers or whether they were tourists or were living in Egypt.

Only a few years ago we went to all sorts of expenses to get thousands of 'citizens' out of Lebanon and fly them to Aus. These people had been living in Lebanon and had no assetts in Aus, so we gave them Centrelink benefits as well. Who knows where these people are now?

I can see individual benefits for those with dual citizenship, but does Australia get any advantage from allowing dual citizenship. If not, why do we keep this costly advantage for a few.

Banjo:

Prior to 4 April 2002, Australian citizens who became citizens of another country lost their citizenship automatically. Australia currently allows its citizens to hold dual nationality - the advantage for Australia is primarily a financial one. If an Australia citizen owns land or property or inherits overseas assets or is eligible for any sort of pension from another country - the Australian social benefits are automatically decreased for that person - thus saving the Australian government quite a bit.

Banjo, sorry but they did not pay, proud tradition of most western country's.
Holding a British passport once was enough to let the vilest fool get help.
Who ever they are, from what ever ethnic back ground bring them home.
Have you considered this ,if the two, so far, planes came and only five passengers had been Australian born tourists,would you leave the dual citizens on the tarmac?
Evidence here, if you look, no government no side of politics is free from badly thought out complaints, we some times, not the politicians are the problem.

Lexi,
Thanks for the date of April 4 2002, is that when Australian citizens were allowed dual citizenship?

I have not heard the financial argument before and am sceptical about us gaining any advantage there. All pensioners in Aus have to regularly submit details of assetts and income to Centrelink and their pension is adjusted accordingly. This includes property assetts and income, bank accounts and applies to ALL pensioners.

Belly,
Although the situation regarding the status of those 'citizens' that we just flew out of Egypt is unclear, the matter regarding those we got out of Lebanon a few years is not.

You choose to ignor this and there were thousands of them. We even hired a ship, part way, and then flew them to Aus. They were living permanently in Lebanon and had no Australian assetts. We even had to hold seminars so Centrelink could advise them how they could help. This was far more than rescuing a few stranded tourists.

I seems that some people go back to live in their birth place and some collect our pension as well. Then if there is strife there, we must get them out. Seems the only thing we get from this is the bill. The advantages to individuals is clear but not for Australia. Ethnicity has nothing to do with this.

Banjo:

The information that I quoted I obtained from the Parliamentary Library in Canberra - you can google it. Apparently if people have dual citizenship and are receiving social benefits from overseas - (income and assets) Centrelink does indeed adjust the amounts that they will receive from the Australian Government - and they will be considerably less than if they weren't receiving social benefits from overseas. In that way - the Australian Government is saving taxpayers' money.

Come on Lexi. These people fly back to Oz regularly to maintain their access to our pension.

They cost us a fortune, not save any, just as they always have. They will continue to, while the political left believe they can gain a vote from them.