Tuesday’s Federal Budget delivered a heavy blow to migrants and permanent residents, increasing the time they must wait to be eligible for social security safety net payments by four years.

This is despite the fact that the Budget relies heavily on migrants for much of the heavy lifting of economic recovery, in terms of population and economic growth, as well as for meeting critical skills shortages.

In the Budget the Morrison Government has announced that new Permanent Residents will have to wait four years to be eligible for social security safety net payments. These include:

• Family Tax Benefit B (previous wait – 0 years)
• Family Tax Benefit A (previous wait – 1 year)
• Carer allowance (previous wait – 1 year)
• Carer payment (previous wait – 2 years)
• Parental Leave Pay/Dad and Partner Pay (previous wait – 2 years)

FECCA CEO Mohammad Al-Khafaji said treating permanent residents fairly benefits all Australians.

“Permanent residents are our future Australians and should be made to feel welcome, secure and accepted. These measures are deeply unfair and hurtful to future citizens.” Mr Al-Khafaji said.

“Supporting migrants to have the best possible settlement outcomes is in the best interests of migrants, their children, and the broader community who will benefit from their contributions to our society and economy.

“With population growth central to our economic recovery, it also doesn’t make sense to put in place new disincentives for migrants to choose Australia as their future home, or for permanent residents in Australia to have children.

“What many people may not know is the pathway from migration to permanent residency often exceeds four years. With these changes, the Federal Government will force many migrant families to wait eight years or more before becoming eligible for support.

“This is unacceptable and will hurt families. The unfortunate reality is that many families will defer having children or may not have children at all.

“The increases in wait times for eligibility for the carer allowance and carer payment also does not recognise the value of the substantial care and support provided by carer visa holders to their sponsoring relative.

“FECCA calls on Labor and the crossbench to oppose these changes to support growth, successful settlement and families.”

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For media inquiries contact: 0401 125 370 or media@mediafb85f8131c.wpcomstaging.com

FECCA welcomes the significant $17.7 billion investment in aged care over five years announced in last night’s Federal Budget. This funding, matched with committment for representation on the new governance structures, will go a long way to ensure the needs of vulnerable older people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are met.

Specifically, FECCA:

• Welcomes the $6.5 billion for 80,000 new Home Care Packages over the next two years. Home care is a critical support for older CALD Australians and there is an overwhelming preference amongst CALD communities to age at home.
• Welcomes the $65.2 million to increase translating and interpreting services to help CALD Australians access and navigate the aged care system. This will assist more than 75,000 people.
• Supports the drafting of a new Aged Care Act to enshrine the Government’s reforms in legislation by mid-2023.
• Supports the announcement that the Government will work towards the establishment of an office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care.
• Supports the establishment of new governance arrangements, including a National Aged Care Advisory Council and a Council of Elders.
• Notes that the Aged Care Diversity Framework should be mandated and FECCA will continue to work collaboratively with the Government on this following the review.

FECCA Chairperson Mary Patetsos said the Budget measures would assist many older CALD Australians.

“The Aged Care Royal Commission brought to light the need for significant reform and additional funding in the aged care sector,” Ms Patetsos said.

“FECCA was very active throughout the Royal Commission in ensuring that the voices of older CALD Australians and their families were heard.

“FECCA welcomes this very significant funding for the sector, particularly the additional funding for Home Care and translating services, and the announcements of new Governance structures, including an Aged Care Advisory Council and a Council of Elders.

“It is critical that the Aged Care Advisory Council and the Council of Elders both include representatives with CALD expertise and lived experiences to ensure the sector is responsive to the needs of CALD Australians and their families, and we thank the Government for recognising the importance of diverse representation on these structures.

“FECCA will also proactively work with the Government to ensure that a sustained social support program will be in place to support older people living in the community and their carers.”

FECCA is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For media inquiries contact: 0401 125 370 or media@mediafb85f8131c.wpcomstaging.com

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has today called on the Federal Government to reconsider the ban it has imposed on Australian citizens travelling home from India.

 The ban, which came into effect today, applies to any travellers, including Australian citizens, who have been in India in the preceding 14 days, with breaches punishable with up to five years’ imprisonment.

 FECCA Chairperson Mary Patetsos says the ban – the first of its kind in Australian history – sends the wrong message to the Indian community in Australia who are terrified for the wellbeing of their loved ones.

 “Many Australians travelled to India with the expectation that, as Australian citizens, they would be able to return home,” Ms Patetsos said.

 “Families are scared at this time, and the imposition of this travel ban has added to the fear and anxiety that the community is feeling.

 “We understand there are about 9,000 Australian citizens in India who want to return home. That includes vulnerable older people and minors now trapped in a terrifying situation without their parents.

 “The Government must find an alternative solution and organise repatriation flights for Australian citizens.”

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

For media inquiries contact: 0401 125 370 or media@mediafb85f8131c.wpcomstaging.com