Leading migrant advocacy groups have warned that planned cuts to migrant welfare payments will result in increased poverty, especially among women.
that new arrivals will have to wait three years instead of two to access certain welfare payments including the Family Tax Benefit, Paid Parental Leave and Carer's Allowance.
The decision – part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook – will come into effect next July and is projected to save $1.3 billion over four years.
But migrant advocates have told SBS News the societal costs of the move could be far greater.
Edwina MacDonald, Director of policy and advocacy at Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), estimated that 50,000 families will be hurt by the cut.
“The government should not risk increasing poverty by refusing essential support to people in financial need. People who do not have enough income to cover the essentials of life should have access to income support when they need it,” she said.
“This is a direct attack on recent migrants who already make huge contributions to our society; working, studying, caring and participating in our community.”
Ms MacDonald said the cuts will disproportionately affect women as they are most likely to receive paid parental leave and family tax benefits.
“Denying access to paid parental leave is counterintuitive because this policy boosts employment outcomes for women,” she said.
The concerns have been echoed by Migration Council Australia Chief Executive Carla Wilshire who told SBS News the changes will “very much impact women”.
“(And) it really affects young families that are starting a life here. I think one of the things we have to factor in is that they’re going through enormous periods of transition to a new society into new workplaces,” she said.
“We need to do everything we can to set them up well so they can contribute to Australian economy and society over the course of their lifetime.”
Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook paperwork indicated that there will be some “exemptions” for “vulnerable groups”. But Ms Wilshire said these definitions remained unclear for now.
“I would think that anyone that is going through the process of integration into a new society, who is going through profound changes and adjustments to a new life in Australia should be considered vulnerable.”
“Migration is very much about signals. And while this measure doesn’t necessarily mean that migrants are less welcome here, I think it sends the signal that they’re a little bit less welcome. That’s quite concerning,” Ms Wilshire said.
