Disability pensioners living overseas
Thousands of Australian disability pensioners are receiving taxpayers' money to live overseas, many in places best known as holiday destinations.
Australians are paying $100 million a year to fund 7300 recipients of the disability pension living overseas.
Official figures show the greatest number, more than 1200, live in Greece, while hundreds more live in Turkey, Croatia, Thailand and New Zealand.
The Philippines and areas of Indonesia, including 83 people in Bali, are among the other destinations where Australian disability pensioners are living at a cost to the taxpayer of $99.9 million a year, News Corp reports.
The news comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott prepares to unveil his Commission of Audit report at 2pm (AEST) on Thursday and warns of welfare cuts and a debt tax to overhaul the Budget deficit.
Social Service Minister Kevin Andrews has told News Corp he has asked for information clarifying residency requirements for such pensioners, saying he's concerned some pension recipients may be choosing to live overseas for lifestyle reasons at the expense of taxpayers.
The federal government now disallows the pension for those who are overseas for more than six weeks.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
‘Unimaginable loss’: Two children killed in horror crash on the way home from school
Talia and Ebony were physically abused by their mother. Then she was made into a TV star
Blanche d’Alpuget, writer and widow of Bob Hawke, dies aged 82
Justine lost her brother suddenly. Then an unexpected email arrived