Viral hate emails on asylum seekers are wrong

There are a number of viral emails going around that claim that refugees get special treatment from the Government. These emails are wrong. In Talking points: Asylum seekers 'don't get cash, houses, gifts' Malcolm Farr writes about a study that addresses these emails.

NEARLY a decade of viral emails claiming refugees get taxpayer-funded cash, houses and other gifts denied to Australian citizens has been debunked by an independent study.

The emails stir up resentment towards asylum seekers settling here but are simply not true, according to the latest research paper by the Federal Parliamentary Library.

The research dismisses claims that refugees get cash payments, free houses and extravagant gifts.

"There is no truth to claims made in emails recently circulated throughout Australia that refugees are entitled to higher benefits than other social security recipients," says the study by social policy researcher Luke Buckmaster.

"Refugees have the same entitlements as all other permanent residents. They do not receive special refugee payments or special rates of payment."