DEAD LUCKY; Row over pounds 7m Oz handouts.

Byline: Frank Thorne

THOUSANDS of dead people received millions in payments designed to stimulate the Australian economy.

Red-faced tax officials have admitted the cost of bonus payments to 16,000 people beyond the grave is likely to exceed pounds 7million.

On top of that, an estimated 27,000 expats paid the stimulus by the Australian government will push the total to pounds 20million.

The revelation has caused a storm of criticism from opposition politicians.

Liberal Party leader Malcolm Turnbull rejected Government claims that making the payments to dead people and Australians overseas was unavoidable.

The payments of pounds 450 per person were made to estates and are unlikely to be spent as part of the government's pounds 21billion stimulus package.

But Turnbull said it demonstrated the absurdity of the cash splash and he accused Labour of not understanding they're spending other people's money.

About pounds 4billion has been paid to 8.7million people so far. The government are also sending about pounds 12.5million to people living overseas.

And non-Australians who have worked in the country for at least six months will also be receiving the payments.

The economies of New Zealand and Britain will benefit the most, with 40 per cent of the overseas payments going to expatriates in those countries.