[Edited extract from public address]
“Refugee Week is a timely opportunity for us as a Council to say ‘enough is enough’ and join with other councils and organisations to advocate on this important issue for asylum seekers,” Cr Simic, who came to Australia as a refugee, said.
“Our City is a proud to be a Refugee Welcome Zone and we want to make it very clear that we believe this unfair policy must be overturned before more asylum seekers become hungry and homeless as they wait for their protection applications to stay in Australia to be assessed.”
Cr Simic said the local Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, which supports people who have been detained in Immigration Detention Centres and asylum seekers living in the community, was concerned about the number of people already seeking help after being dropped from the federal Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program.
“These desperate people include a mother of four who had been deemed ‘job ready’ despite three of her children being too young to attend school,” he said.
Mayor Bernadene Voss said Council would take actions including:
The Federal Government’s national SSRS program provides a basic living allowance worth about $247 a week, usually 89 per cent of the Newstart Allowance, casework support and access to torture and trauma counselling. It is delivered by not-for-profit agencies.
In August 2017, the Home Affairs Department reduced those able to access the program, including people studying English for employment. As a result of a further eligibility change on 1 May 2018, SRSS asylum seeking recipients who are assessed as being job ready will start exiting the program. The Federal Government maintains the program is designed for short-term, tailored support and that asylum seekers who have work rights and are considered ‘job ready’ should be obliged to work.
MORE:
City of Port Phillip
Media Unit
Tel: 9209 6506
Email: mediaenquiries@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/jun-2018-media_7613.htm
Port Phillip Council has marked Refugee Week by joining a national campaign calling on the Federal Government to reverse income support cuts to thousands of asylum seekers.
Councillor Ogy Simic, who successfully moved the notice of motion at this week’s Council meeting, said it was Council’s duty to try and stop vulnerable and often traumatised arrivals to Australia from joining the growing ranks of people experiencing homelessness.“Refugee Week is a timely opportunity for us as a Council to say ‘enough is enough’ and join with other councils and organisations to advocate on this important issue for asylum seekers,” Cr Simic, who came to Australia as a refugee, said.
“Our City is a proud to be a Refugee Welcome Zone and we want to make it very clear that we believe this unfair policy must be overturned before more asylum seekers become hungry and homeless as they wait for their protection applications to stay in Australia to be assessed.”
Cr Simic said the local Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, which supports people who have been detained in Immigration Detention Centres and asylum seekers living in the community, was concerned about the number of people already seeking help after being dropped from the federal Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program.
“These desperate people include a mother of four who had been deemed ‘job ready’ despite three of her children being too young to attend school,” he said.
Mayor Bernadene Voss said Council would take actions including:
- asking the Prime Minister and Federal Minister of Home Affairs to reverse cuts to the SSRS program, and
- informing local Victorian and federal MPs of Council’s position along with agencies and community groups assisting asylum seekers.
The Federal Government’s national SSRS program provides a basic living allowance worth about $247 a week, usually 89 per cent of the Newstart Allowance, casework support and access to torture and trauma counselling. It is delivered by not-for-profit agencies.
In August 2017, the Home Affairs Department reduced those able to access the program, including people studying English for employment. As a result of a further eligibility change on 1 May 2018, SRSS asylum seeking recipients who are assessed as being job ready will start exiting the program. The Federal Government maintains the program is designed for short-term, tailored support and that asylum seekers who have work rights and are considered ‘job ready’ should be obliged to work.
MORE:
City of Port Phillip
Media Unit
Tel: 9209 6506
Email: mediaenquiries@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/jun-2018-media_7613.htm