Taxpayers shell out $4million for asylum seekers to receive discounts on public transport.

Taxpayers are shelling out more than $4million so asylum seekers can receive discounts on public transport.

The New South Wales state government has slashed the transport prices for political refugees who have come to Australia by giving them the same Opal card designed for seniors.

Asylum seekers entitled to the card are able to ride trains all over Sydney for the set price of $2.50 a day.

They are also able to access the city's ferries and buses at a discounted rate.

The Transport for NSW website says asylum seekers are eligible for the gold senior/pensioner Opal card if they permanently reside in NSW and receive aid from an asylum seeker support agency.

They also need to hold or be applying for a bridging visa as an asylum seeker.

A transport spokeswoman said the scheme, introduced by the Baird government, costs $4million a year, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The latest Department of Home Affairs figures show that more than 6000 'illegal maritime arrivals' currently live in NSW.

Lakemba, in Sydney's south-west, and Wentworthville and Auburn, in the city's west, are home to the most asylum seekers across the state.

One Nation politician Mark Latham said: 'Taxpayers would be thinking why am I working hard, sitting here on my increasingly crowded train trying to get to my job paying full rates and others who don't even have status... get subsidised'.

The director of policy at the Australian Taxpayers Alliance questioned whether something could be done to ensure foreigners arrive in Australia within the law.

'The concern is that it creates incentives not to come here in an orderly legal way through migration,' he said.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6766239/Taxpayers-shell-4million-asylum-seekers-receive-discounts-public-transport.html

Wow, $2.50 per day, as a regular on Sydney's buses and trains for many years, $2.50 makes a change from the hundreds of thousands of commuters who daily, walk on to Sydney's public transport system and take a free ride.

My eldest son is an STA bus driver, sees so many not bothering to pay. In peak hour it lots in a collier and tie, not just your down and outs. $1 million/day lost revenue. Then there is the regular failures of the Opal system, and then everyone gets a free ride.

Australian mismanagement is at work whilst asylum seekers are not !

Not surprising. Liberals, state and federal, seem to have come to the conclusion that the money and perks in Opposition are good enough for them not to have to cope with the stress and responsibility of government, and they are not even going to try to get re-elected.

They have put Labor policies into place, not caring that they will lose the traditional voters, and fail to gain replacements. On these so-called asylum seekers aka illegal country-shoppers, they have not even said boo about the Phelps/Labor trashing of border policy a few months out from an election!

I’m not sure where these lazy good for nothing faux refugees will go with their subsidised fares, other than the nearest Centrelink office.

Paul1405 Like usual you have nothing to say so try to deflect the discussion to transport rorts, run along and start your own thread for that purpose.

Dear Paul,

Thanks for putting things into a better perspective
for us.
I've come across a link that explains why the NSW
Liberal Government gives asylum seekers travel concessions.
It's worth a read to get a better insight:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/26/nsw-gives-asylum-seekers-travel-concessions-to-help-the-vulnerable