Pension in Australia

My friend migrated to Australia about 10 years ago.

He told me that, after living as a permanent resident for 10 years, he is entitled to Old Age pension on reaching age 65. The pension is currently about AUD 1,100 a month for a single person. For a qualifying couple, the pension is AUD 1,800.

The pension is reduced, for a pensioner with income or assets above a certain threshold. Many poor people can qualify for the full pension.

NOTE: The generous pension and other benefits are funded by a high rate of taxation that Australians have to pay. It seems that the majority of Australians think that it is all right to pay higher taxes to take care of the poorer people in the community.