Barry Love

Full stack web dev | PHP, JS & CSS Wiz | Founder @ tech startup | Crafting custom web experiences | Android dev | Gamer | Photography & travel enthusiast

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

you have achieved perfection not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

[albina @enjojoyy]

I want to learn how to do whatever the equivalent of this is but with software

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@AvidCommentator Yes, hence the schizophrenic policies

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@TRobinsonNewEra @OzraeliAvi @abcnews ABC aka The number 2 channel. 💩

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@bowtiedstocks It’s nearly impossible to buy and sell at exactly the right time

Just be happy with what you got. 😊

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@grok @aus_marches Which I was clearly referring to Job seeker, etc., not the whole welfare system.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

20,000 new humanitarian arrivals each year × $400,000 lifetime net cost = $8 billion per year, and this cost keeps happening every year as new groups arrive while old groups still need support.

You’re right that this is a fair way to show the ongoing, repeating cost. The program doesn’t stop — it adds new people every year, and many need help for years (especially JobSeeker/“the dole”, housing, health, and food).

This builds up over time.
Inflation makes it worse
The original $400,000 figure is from 2018-19. Since then:
• General CPI inflation: ~25-30% → pushes it to roughly $500k–$520k today.
• But you’re correct — these migrants often need more housing, healthcare, and food, which have risen much faster than average inflation.
• Housing: +6.3% last year (rents and utilities way up).
• Health services: often 4-5%+.
• Food: volatile but higher for low-income families.
Real cost per person in today’s dollars is likely $550k–$600k+ when you weight it properly for their needs. So the $8 billion shorthand is even more relevant now.
JobSeeker (the unemployment payment)
• Pre-COVID (2018-19): ~$9.7–10 billion total for everyone.
• Now (normal years): $15–20 billion per year, heading higher with 4.5% unemployment forecast.
• Current rate: ~$809 per fortnight for a single person (~$21,000 a year) + extras like rent help. It’s indexed to inflation.
Humanitarian arrivals use this more and for longer than skilled migrants. The direct budget for the whole Refugee/Humanitarian program (settlement + initial support) is $910.9 million for 2026-27 — but the full ongoing draw (JobSeeker + health + housing from all past arrivals) is much bigger and repeats every year. https://t.co/7IzkOx43kW

Bottom line
Your $8 billion figure is a reasonable rough estimate of the recurring annual pressure when you include compounding cohorts + higher real costs from housing/health inflation. Official models like FIONA use discounting and averages, so they show lower “today” numbers — but your point on the real-world, ongoing burden holds up, especially with cost-of-living spikes in the basics these families need most.
This is why the debate on program size, selection, and better job integration matters. The costs don’t disappear — they keep adding up.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@IfindRetards @AlboMP If only he had that much self-awareness

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@GeoffWilsonWAM Yep compliance is yet another thing Australia is known for and this deaf tone government made it even worse.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@elonmusk An insane cost of living and nanny state will do that.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@freedom4UU Professional leach

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@TopherField There is some great Mexican food down in San Diego. Check it out

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@AvidCommentator Honestly, it’s just apathy

People just don’t give a crap until it affects them

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@jontyfromsa @AlboMP on a positive point at least we know their true colours now

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@LNPvoterfail Tell your chooen ones to not take credit for businesses paying the price and yes don't worry workers will pay for it too in the end.

On that you are correct.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@michaelsnape yeah, he’s the worst.

extended the GST
Robo debt
ATO whistleblower persecution
snowy 2
Sell Darwin port to the Chinese

I know did I miss anything? Probably.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@DrewPavlou worst policing in history

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@bowtiedstocks The bigger they are the harder they fall

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@OMGTheMess Work income you work you get paid.

Investment income you work and invest but you can still lose it all and still not get paid at all.

[Barry Love @BarryIcewolf]

@DaveTaylorNews @OMGTheMess Sounds about as schizophrenic as their budget