Colac Otway Shire Council has urged the Federal Government to seek a more compassionate and humanitarian approach to asylum seekers.
Council struck a position on the issue as a way of showing support to Iranian and Afghani asylum seekers currently living in Colac.
The same letter will also go to Labor and the Greens, requesting immediate processing of visa applications for asylum seekers in Australia on bridging visas.
Councillor Brian Crook, who brought the notice of motion to Council, said asylum seekers living in Australia were ‘decent people’, most of whom were ‘well educated and have professional backgrounds, trades or have run their own businesses’.
Iranian asylum seekers living in Colac arrived after a ‘no advantage rule’ was introduced.
They receive an allowance less than the Newstart allowance, and are not allowed to work.
Afghani asylum seekers living in Colac, who arrived before the ‘no advantage rule’ are allowed to work, but have no right to be united with their families under a bridging visa.
If they visit their families they are risking their lives and will never be able to return to Australia.
Mayor Lyn Russell said Colac’s current refugee and asylum seeker community made a valuable contribution to Colac.
“Of particular concern to Council is the issue of Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas, which allow people to remain in Australia and work for three years, but come with a caveat that they can never gain permanent residency in this country, and they can never bring family out to Australia.
“If they do not sign up to a Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visas, they will be denied access to benefits and access to mainstream services.”
The letter to politicians also asks that if the process legitimises their status as refugees, that they be afforded an opportunity for permanent residency and have opportunities to bring their families to Australia.
