More rights for asylum-seekers

July 31, 2008

ASYLUM-SEEKERS will be refused the dole but given greater rights to work and access to Medicare while they wait for their cases to be resolved...

... the 2008-09 budget provided $5.6 million to continue the case management and community care pilot program to help people whose claims are being resolved. The program provides practical support for health and welfare needs, offers immigration information and counselling on options for return to home country and also provides independent migration advice.

This includes short-term accommodation, basic living allowance payments and medical health checks...

The Opposition's immigration spokesman, Chris Ellison, warned that the changes could allow hundreds of non-citizens to disappear into the community and provide encouragement to people smugglers.