A coalition of mayors from around the country have signed an open letter today calling on the Australian Government to extend crucial support to those seeking asylum who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The open letter, which has 39 signatories including Port Phillip, outlines key concerns for people seeking asylum who have lost work as a result of COVID-19 and remain ineligible for income support programs and – in some instances – Medicare.
Many of the areas represented in the open letter are home to large populations of people seeking asylum, and local governments are seeing the full impact of the need for more support from the Federal Government.
Port Phillip Council Mayor Bernadene Voss said it is important that no-one is left behind at this unprecedented time.
“Port Phillip has a proud history of diversity and inclusion and residents from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds are valued members of our Multicultural Advisory Committee,” Cr Voss said.
Local community groups, including the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP), are playing a tremendous role in assisting those most in need at this incredibly challenging time.
Council is also playing its part through measures including initiating the ‘Share the Food’ Program and providing supplementary funds through its Community Meals Subsidy to BASP.
“Our Council appreciates the Commonwealth Home Support Program funding we are drawing on to deliver our Community Meals Subsidy for the most vulnerable. We were deeply touched to hear that a mother who received food from a BASP volunteer said ‘now I will be able to buy nappies’.
“Although this grassroots assistance exists, more needs to be done as many asylum seekers living in the community have little or no income to survive on.
“We urge the Australian Government to extend income support measures to those who desperately need them.”
The open letter, coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia, comes as a coalition of educators recently called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston to extend the JobSeeker scheme to people seeking asylum over concerns about their students becoming destitute.
