Prisoners, Pets, and Overseas Pensioners Qualify for The Oz $900 Economic Stimulus Package

This is an extension to an earlier post last week.

Prisoners eligible for stimulus package payments

MURDERERS, rapists and drug dealers will reap $900 payments from taxpayers under Kevin Rudd's economic rescue package.
The jail grapevine is rife with news of the looming windfall for felons who worked on the outside in the 2007-08 tax year.
Thousand of inmates could get their hands on the latest round of stimulus cash, to flow from early next month.
While many may have robbed or bashed people for less, all they have to do to collect the money is file a tax return.
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Prisoners are unable to have more than $120 in their jail accounts but associates or family could access the cash.
The Federal Government confirmed that recently arrived inmates would get the workers' tax bonus if they satisfied the eligibility criteria.
Victims' advocate Noel McNamara said giving money to criminals was a disgrace. "These people are felons, murders and deviants," he said.
"The Government should withdraw any obligations it thinks it has to these people and put the money where it's needed."
The revelation comes as the Government borrows $2 billion a week to finance its $42 billion economic rescue plan.
About $75 million of stimulus cash paid last December went abroad to 60,000 overseas-based pensioners, while tens of thousands of foreigners and expatriate Aussies will get the tax bonus payments.
Dead people also could be eligible for the bonuses, while there is a report that dogs could profit after the death of their master.
Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey said the jackpot for criminals would do nothing for the legitimate economy.
"It's hard to spend money from jail," he said. "The entire package was poorly thought through. The wrong people are getting the money at the wrong time.
"Taxpayers will be outraged at the money being wasted by this Government."
Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen's office said jail inmates would have to satisfy the normal eligibility requirements.
"Any Australian residents will be eligible for the tax bonus if they paid tax in the 2007-08 financial year, after taking into account available offsets and credits, and lodge their return by June 30, 2009.
"Direct support for consumption provided by payments such as the tax bonus is integral to the Government's response to the global financial crisis," his spokesman said.
It was reported on Sunday that pets left money in the estates of people who worked in 2007-08 could get the bonus.