Rules on refugee services criticised

Issue 

Rules on refugee services criticised

BY LYNDA HANSEN

BRISBANE — Federal government laws and regulations restricting refugees' access to work, housing and medical services came under sustained criticism at a Refugee Action Day here on July 23.

The 100 participants at the forum, organised jointly by the Refugee Claimants Support Centre and Amnesty International, drew up recommendations for assisting refugees to settle in Australia, including the abandonment of mandatory detention of refugees, the removal of restrictions on what work refugees can perform and support for refugees' job-seeking efforts.

The centre's Mandy McNutly told Green Left Weekly, "The Australian government needs to re-examine its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 5 which states that all people should have the access to jobs. The government is permitting refugees to die, not to live."

The centre supplies food, housing, English lessons and emergency services to refugees. The centre receives no funding from the government, relying on the financial support of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and donations from the community.

Colombian refugee Hernan, a trained architect, described how he was told by immigration authorities that the terms of his visa meant he could not seek paid or voluntary work. He said he now had to beg for clothes and food.

The seminar's 14 recommendations will be presented to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs on "Refugee Monday", August 28, at the department's Brisbane office, 313 Adelaide Street.

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