[Greens-Media] Refugee families have to be able to work, support themselves and contribute

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Refugee families have to be able to work, support themselves and contribute

The government's plan to dump refugee families into the community without work rights or appropriate support will force thousands of children to live rough, putting their welfare at risk, the Australian Greens have said.

"This is just more cruelty from the Labor government, inflicted on refugees and their children who have already suffered so much in fleeing war and torture," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

"The so called 'No Advantage' test is an absolute joke, with four times as many people arriving since it was introduced. It is not stopping the boats and only inflicting pain.

"Refugees need to have the right to work while they live in the community and have their claims for protection assessed as quickly as possible.

"Make no mistake, this is the Labor Party's own version of the Howard government's Temporary Protection Visas.

"Australians aren't going to put up with the empty 'deterrence' line much longer and the government simply has to admit that its cruel tactics aren't working.

"Not happy with forcing families to live in poverty, the government is also going to send children to the infamous Curtin Detention Centre.

"I fear for the children who are headed to Curtin and I fear for the families who this government has now condemned to destitute poverty."

The Greens will be moving a motion in the Senate on the 14th of May, calling for refugees and asylum seekers who are released into the community to be given the right to work and support themselves.


Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


Noah Schultz-Byard
Media adviser
Office of Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young
Greens' Senator for South Australia
M. 0427 604 760

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