Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

Official figures show the greatest number, more than 1200, live in Greece, while hundreds more live in Turkey, Croatia, Thailand and New Zealand.

http://m.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaki ... 6901582154

Australia compares the statistic to Turks!

I wonder what they do with Australian Tax Money? Drink frapedes?

There need to change the law to stop Greeks, and Turks from rorting the system!

[repulsewarrior]

that's democracy, where there is a hole, Greeks like to fill it. follow the worst Greek (or follow the worst Turk, we are all the same), and you will find dirty.

...it may be fairer to Greek Australians if these statistics were compared to the population size of Australia, and their proportion to it, they may still rank number one, and one hopes with (other) very small populations of Nationals, their rankings do not change, or are no different, either.

i like to think that "we" are all the same and always changing. looking at it that way, a binomial curve, at any given time, likely more than half of "us" are assholes or worse.

[repulsewarrior]

of course, i have been reminded, Greece is a great travel spot, one does not have to be Greek to travel there...

...but that too makes an interesting statistic if overwhelmingly true.

[Sotos]

All so called "Australians" are practically thieves who went there to rip off the natives from their homeland. As they say there is no honor among thieves

[GreekIslandGirl]

The article doesn't mention Greeks, at all.

It just says it's Australians retiring abroad. Just like many British pensioners retire to Cyprus or Greece so it seems many Australian pensioners choose to retire to such places also. Are the British pensioners that retire to Cyprus and receive their pensions or disabilities "spongers" off the British taxpayer? This confused poster seems to suggest so.

Either way, the article is about Australians, not Greeks or even Greek Australians, retiring to Greece etc.

[Paphitis]

No no it is Greek pseudo "Australians" that sponge of the system.

Real Australians aren't as cunning enough, and they can retire in Queensland, or mid north or Southern Coasts of NSW and Victoria which shits all over Greece!

So why would they go to Greece?

[Paphitis]

IK guys, it's time to rob in a Greek.

If you know a Greek he is committing fraud, please do not hesitate to report them to the authorities.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/custome ... d-security

[Nikitas]

The Australian embassy in Athens has operatives that travel the country and locate people who receive pensions. It is a service copied from US and Canadian practices. The person's ID is checked at least once per year to make sure they are still alive. So where is the ripoff?

I interviewed for a job like that many years ago. Even took a driving test to make sure I would not smash their car while out in the boonies looking for those wily pensioners.

[Paphitis]

The Australian embassy in Athens has operatives that travel the country and locate people who receive pensions. It is a service copied from US and Canadian practices. The person's ID is checked at least once per year to make sure they are still alive. So where is the ripoff?

I interviewed for a job like that many years ago. Even took a driving test to make sure I would not smash their car while out in the boonies looking for those wily pensioners.

Under Australian Law, you are not allowed to live in a foreign country and claim a pension. You are only allowed to be overseas for 3 months, then they cut your benefit until you return back to Australia. If you do not return, then the Australian Government will not pay you. There are variations such as Veterans, and Service pensions etc.

Another thing they would look for are Greek Australians who have property in Greece, and do not declare their asset which is a blatant rip off because Social Security in Australia is asset means tested. Also, there are some who rent their property and do not declare their income. Another blatant rip off because they must pay tax and their benefits could be effected.

Unfortunately, Australia is very suspicious of the General Greek population because from experience they know that Greeks will try and pull every con job off under the sun!

[Nikitas]

Paphiti,

I have been living and working in Greece for nearly 40 years. My take is that Greeks are the most sheep like population I have ever come across, in terms of understanding and claiming their rights, and also one of the least prone to crime. The Eu crime stats sort of prove the point.

As to having property in Greece, how does Australia figure that out, when the property owners themselves, due to complex land law and lack of a land registry, might not know if they in fact have legal right in any property?

I am a case in point, my maternal grandfather left a house in his island, which is now subject to a division among a dozen or so grandkids. But the house has been taken over by a squatter. Do I have a property right in that house? I wish the Australian government would figure it out, cause the local courts cannot!

There are several neighbors who receive Australian pensions via the embassy. Are you sure that pensions are not payable overseas? I do not think these guys were civil servants or in the services. Two of them are an Anglo Australian couple who settled here after they retired.