10/10/1997.PENSION NO XOB999/790 084 194V/WTW

I received your letter dated 24/SEPTEMBER/1997, TODAY.

Thank you for writing to me, I don't understand about Medicare,

M Jardin's telling me now that Medicare should collect the

medical expences of Australian pensioners overseas.

I have lot to say, it is too much to explain on the phone, so

I think I better put it to you in writing.

When I was in the Philippines on a holiday visa BALIKBAYAN in

1993/94, Medicare, instead of supporting my medical only struck

me off their files and cancelled my MEDICARE CARD, then they

wrotem me a letter telling me that they support Australians in

overseas countries but for 5 (FIVE) YEARS ONLY.

On my file, somebody in Medicare listed me as not returning to

Australia till 1999, when I came back fourth December 1994 I had

a very hard time convincing them that I had returned and to get

a new Medicare Card.

They thought that I was somebody else pretending to be Miron

Lovric, a fortnight later when I went to see them after they saw

my passport and made an application for a new card they still

tried to tell me, Miron Lovric is not coming back from the

Philippines till 1999, when I asked who told them that, they

said, you wrote in 1993, I told them that I never did anything

of the kind, there was corruption in the Brisbane Office.

Somebody in the office made believe on the computer that I said

that, when my letter was accessed they found no such statement

and my signature to be the same as on the application.

Then they told me that they don't support pensioners living

overseas at all but I have other things to tell you.

I hope M JARDIN understands my situation about what's going on.

Alright, it is stated on my file that I got married, they gave

my wife Alejandra M Lovric a separate pension number which is

404-878-913CB, she has never claimed any money from Australian

Social Security whatsoever and I support her and 2 dependent

children from my single Invalid pension.

I had a very tough time in 1995 to get my full single pension

restored to me, even though an Authorised Review Officer made

the independent decision that my pension was to be restored to

me in full while I was living separatley, they didn't want to

do it, and every time an increase of any kind came, I had to go

to the office and argue the toss for my rights to an increase.

Even an increase of 20 or 50 cents, I had to fight them for it,

then I had to wait a fortnight longer before getting anything.

I even threatened a Social Security officer from Stones Corner

Brisbane with Legal Action under the Anti Discrimination Act

because he yelled out at me, you shouldn't have got married.

While I was in Brisbane I was supporting my wife and the kids

from my single pension by sending money every fortnight, also

paying big rent on a room in the boarding house and supporting

myself at the same time.
When I finally lodged an application with the Australian Embassy

in Manila, Philippines, and was able to raise money by asking my

father from Sydney for loans and using my pension money to pay

the application fee for Immigration, the Embassy had a change

of rule, whereas previously they asked me for an International

Bankdraft to be made out to them for Immigration Purposes to

which I complied, when she came with the children to Manila to

the interview, somebody chased her away after telling her, we

don't take cheques, we want cash in Philippine currency, go

and change them and bring us the cash.

My wife couldn't do that because first, they were not cheques

but Bank Drafts, not made to her but to them.

There was corruption in the Embassy and the ambassador Newton

was recalled in November 1995 for disciplinary action in Canberra

and he was replaced by another person.

They made a lie on their computer that my wife's application was

cancelled because she didn't have any money.

I didn't know that at the time, after I discovered what happened

and she returned me the Bank drafts I lost 50 percent of the

value on exchange from the Pesos back to the dollars.

I decided to come back to the Philippines to help her get to

Australia but I foresaw lot of problems.

The Embassy took advantage of her because she didn't understand,

and because her English is functional.

I came back to the Philippines on Permanent Residence yes, but

I declare to you that I will not stay permanent in Philippines.

What of having to pay the rent, if I returned on Balik Bayan,

the tourist visa I would have to go back and forth to Cebu once

a month like before, first time to apply for the Visa, second

time to pay the Visa, it's uneccaptable.

I thought it out very carefuly before I decided on my strategy.

Since the Beginning of March 1997, the Australian Embassy had

two increases in their application fee for Immigrations.

First one in March was a $150.00 increase from $450.00 to $600-

Australian, then at the beginning of July 1997, there was another

increase of an extra $455.00 Australian, making the total fee

$1,055.00, how on earth do they expect pensioners to pay that

kind of money to bring their wives to Australia?

From January 1997, there was a steady decline in the dollar, I

was being paid less and less on the International Exchange for

my pension cheques.

I really panicked when I lost $25.00 in one go on the exchange

in July 97, then in August the Philippine Government devalued

and floated the Peso on the Stock Exchange.

I have been getting more and more money for the last couple of

months since, my pension is now just over 13 thousand Pesos per

month and if it keeps rising I may be lucky to return within

twelve or eighteen months to Australia.

I have already arranged accommodation with an Aged Pensioner

woman that I know in Jimboomba in Queensland and I have got a

letter in my possession to prove that.

The woman is holding belongings of mine in storage for me for

when I return without any monetary value to her,

she is doing that for me in good will, so you can see that I am

coming back and I will bring my wife back permanent with 2 kids.
I did tell the Stones Corner office of the DSS that I could come

back within 2 years or so from my departure of June 1996.

I still have to buy my tablets by the month and pay various

other expenses, I was advised by my father from Australia who is

a former travel agent but now retired on the pension in Sydney,

to adopt my wife's children to make it easier to take them out

of the country since one is ilegitimate and the older sister is

abandoned since her father abandoned her on her birth fifteen

years ago, this is a fact with the registrar.

I have run up against a brick wall I must say, my wife was

advised to get permission from a Social Worker at DSWD so she

can declare her ilegitimate since she was born out of wedlock

anyway and only his name in the registry stands against me

adopting her and giving her my name Lovric.

However, I have sent a letter to the Australian Embassy to

Manila for advice what to do, the Philippine Immigrations will

give her the Passport and exit Visa they told me, providing the

Australian Embassy gives the necessary clearences to travel.

I don't know if it's necessary for me to adopt the kids or not,

I am aware that I can change their names by Deed Poll once we get

back to Brisbane but I'm not sure of the Immigration laws because

they keep chopping and changing all the time.

Australian Immigrations in Brisbane told me in 1995, the children

must travel with the mother if she is the only guardian to them

and she cannot leave them with relations such as grand parents.

That was the same thing told to my wife by the Embassy in Manila

but I don't know what the rules about it are and if they need a

declaration signed by the mother or the registrar/lawyer/judge

or what before anything could be done.

I don't have a telephone number, enclosed is a rent receipt that

is showing our address and monthly rent we pay. NO 343738.

Address of my father enclosed and 5 receipts for medecines.

How on earth can I claim through the Medicare without having my

MEDICARE CARD CANCELLED BY THEM I DON'T KNOW.

I am retained by the Electoral Office as an Eligable Voter

living in another country, as I said earlier, I'm living here

only temporarily till I can get past all the red tape and bring

my wife and the kids with me to Australia.

I have not asked for nor have I accepted any foreign citizenship

and I still retain my Australian Passport which is valid until

the year 2003, I wish to know more about the Medicare.

Yours Faithfully Miron Lovric.

CENTRELINK Date of issue: 31/10/97 E

Welcome to Centrelink International Services, formerly the International

Operations Branch of the Department of Social Security. Although we have

changed our name, you will still be dealing with the same people when

making enquiries about your pension.

The enclosed Australian Pension newsletter provides details about

Centrelink and important information concerning your Australian Pension.

Peter Ball

Manager.