Islamic group demands tax concession for migrants visiting relatives in Oz

Canberra, Feb 13(ANI): An Islamic group has told the Australian government that new migrants should get taxpayer subsidies to enable them visit overseas relatives.

The Islamic Women's Welfare Association also said Muslims prefer to live close to their own people and Australia should devise a plan to "facilitate the purchase of homes for new migrants".

"Migrants face a lot of sacrifices such as having to travel long distances to visit relatives, spending on communication costs, missing out on some events occurring in native countries etc," news.com.au quoted an organization's application, as saying.

"This loss should be compensated by the Government in one way or the other to retain migrants in their country of adoption," it added.

The Islamic Welfare Association is based in Lakemba, Sydney, which has one of the highest Muslim populations in Australia.

Australian Council of Bosnian Organisations President Senada Softic-Telalovic, however, rejected the suggestion that travel compensation should be granted to migrants.

That type of argument will bring out further outrage from those who are so anti-migrant and so anti-multiculturalism," she added.

Softic-Telalovic said that Australia was seen as an ideal migration destination and new arrivals shouldn't take the country for granted.

"Migrants and refugees who come out now are in a significantly better position and you could say a more privileged position than those who came out in the 1970s," she said.

Victorian Multicultural and Citizenship Minister Nick Kotsiras said tax breaks for migrant trips abroad was a ridiculous idea.

"We are all equal and no one should get special privileges," he said. (ANI)