Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia today called on the Labor Opposition, the Australian Greens and cross-bench Senators to reject a bill which extends waiting periods for newly arrived migrants accessing social welfare supports including Family Tax Benefit.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said: “This Bill will inflict unnecessary hardship on vulnerable people and is due to be voted on in the Senate shortly.

“Earlier this week FECCA accepted amendments to the Bill on the understanding that there was not enough support in the Senate to defeat it. FECCA now believes that – combined with the votes of Labor Senators and Australian Greens Senators – there are sufficient Cross-bench Senators prepared to vote against this legislation.”

FECCA maintains that the Parliament should consider that the inherent risks, while mitigated by the Opposition amendments continue to impose a burden on vulnerable people.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / mohammad@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that the Federal Opposition should be congratulated for securing changes to the Government’s Encouraging Self-Sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants Bill 2018.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “These amendments will help protect the most vulnerable new arrivals and their families from the new four-year waiting period for benefits, imposed by the Federal Government.

“We congratulate the Opposition for listening to our concerns and for the amendments that reduce the Bill’s impact on the Family Tax Benefit, Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, Paid Parental Leave and Dad and Partner Pay.

“We thank the Government for accepting the changes.

“FECCA notes that exemptions to waiting periods for people who become lone parents will remain. People on refugee and humanitarian visas as well as those who become citizens are exempt from the changes,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / mohammad@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that the election result in Victoria showed that voters had rejected fear and division and embraced positive agendas which promote decency and inclusion.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said: “Voters at the weekend rejected racist and alarmist claims about law and order in Victoria.

“Instead, the people of Victoria, overwhelmingly, voted for a strong, stable and positive agenda which puts families at its centre.

‘We congratulate the Andrews government on its successful re-election.

“Rather than blaming immigration solely for the challenges facing our cities, the Premier announced a program of investment in infrastructure which will drive growth, employment and improved amenity in both Melbourne and the regions.

“The key lesson of the weekend is that Australians, whatever their origin, want to see leadership and positive initiatives rather than fear and loathing from their political leaders,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / mohammad@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that the Prime Minister’s snap decision to cut immigration numbers by 30,000 showed a lack of leadership and was driven by dubious polling.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said today: “At a time when leadership is required, we see Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacting to a divisive agenda.

“Our strong immigration level is vital to Australia’s economic growth, something Mr Morrison himself emphasised earlier this year when he declared that cutting immigration would negatively impact the Budget, that it would ‘hit the bottom line, the deficit’

“Instead of now declaring ‘enough, enough, enough’, Mr Morrison should be showing national leadership with a comprehensive plan to improve the nation’s infrastructure so that it can service a growing, prosperous nation.

“It is not good enough for the nation’s Prime Minister to abandon long-term vision for our future and opt for short-term populist politics.

“The real issue in the so-called ‘immigration debate’ is inadequate infrastructure, not migrant numbers. We need a Government that shows true leadership on population policy,” Ms Patetsos said.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / mohammad@fecca.org.au

“The Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia welcomes this policy announcement by the Australian Labor Party. We believe that it is unfair for banks and financial institutions to charge large and often unclear fees when people transfer money overseas to help their families and loved ones.” – Mohammad Al-Khafaji, Director of Strategy and Engagement, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia.

“CHOICE was consulted on this proposal, and we offered our strong support for these changes. Transparently advertised fees for remittances are essential to helping consumers navigate this market confidently. When you purchase any other product, you should know upfront exactly how much it will cost, and whether another provider is offering a better deal. International remittances should be treated no differently. Banks and money transfer companies have been getting away with pushing poor value products onto consumers, but this reform will make the market more competitive and leave more money in consumers’ pockets.” – Sarah Agar, Head of Campaigns and Policy, CHOICE

“We welcome today’s announcement calling for more fairness and transparency in the foreign exchange space as we know it will benefit Australian consumers and businesses. Requiring banks and other providers to transparently disclose the true costs of foreign exchange and exchange rate markups has been carefully studied by respected research economists – like the UK’s Behavioural Insights Team – and provides a solid framework for swift policy action. Improved transparency will stop more Aussies from getting ripped off when sending money abroad and will bring more competition into the sector, improving offerings for consumers.” – Nicholas Lembo, TransferWise AU Country Manager.

For more information on the announcement see here.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today that Australia should find better ways to harness the skills and experience of migrants.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said that a Deloitte Access report commissioned by the Queensland Government had found that greater recognition of migrants’ skills and experience would deliver a $250 million boost to that State’s economy over a 10-year period.

“The report finds that lack of recognition in Australia of overseas-obtained qualifications often prevented migrants and refugees from obtaining jobs which aligned with their skills.

“We believe that governments, industry groups and employers across Australia should find better ways to make use of the huge economic resource that new arrivals bring to our country.

“Australia needs to make recognition of overseas qualifications a less complex and expensive process and to support employers to better understand and appreciate the value of experience and skills gained overseas.

“This will enable people who come here can live a full life commensurate with their skills as well as deliver the maximum benefit to Australia—to build the nation using the greatest application of their skills and experience,” Ms Patetsos said.

The report is available here.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Chairperson of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) said today: “Good.’

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has called on the Prime Minister to announce a pathway to citizenship for refugee children brought to Australia from Nauru that offers security for them in Australia as their home.

“The lengthy detention of these children, in many cases for their entire childhood, has amounted to mistreatment,” the Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos, said today.

“Australians are better than this.

“We call on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to establish measures which will enable these children to settle here—to grow up, succeed and contribute to Australia as citizens.

“Any uncertainty about the status of these children simply continues our mistreatment of them.

“A clear pathway to citizenship would confirm the rights they will enjoy in this country and the responsibilities they will have as citizens.

“Certainty of a future in this country will ensure successful settlement and their ongoing social, cultural and economic contribution to Australia,” Ms Patetsos said.

Ms Patetsos said that for decades, Australia’s cultural diversity and economic success had been driven by its immigration program—including refugee intakes—with a clear, humane and fair pathway to citizenship.

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Our role is to advocate and promote issues on behalf of our constituency to government, business and the broader community.

Contact: 0403 044 216 / emma@fecca.org.au