A new social security agreement signed between India and Australia has come into operation enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other’s country, a pact likely to boost bilateral business linkages. Australian Minister for Social Services Christian Porter and Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer said the Commonwealth government wanted to make sure people who live and work in more than one country are not disadvantaged. The Agreement signed in November 2014 came into operation on January 1, 2016.

Australian residents living in India will be able to claim the Australian Age Pension without having to return to Australia, while Indian residents living in Australia will have access to Indian retirement pensions.  Australia now has 30 international social security agreements around the world to support people living and working in more than one country including with countries like Austria, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the US.

 Did You Know??? 

• 24 rabbits that were introduced to Australia in 1859 had multiplied in number to over 2 million in ten years.
• There’s a river in Australia called the “Never Never River”.
• The world’s largest cattle station, Anna Creek Station in Australia, is larger than Israel.
• Australia’s Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway. With about 14,500 km.