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