Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed the decision to extend the submission period for the Aged Care Royal Commission to 30 April 2020, because it will provide more opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians to tell their stories.

FECCA also welcomes the appointment of former Federal Court judge the Hon. Tony Pagone as the third royal commissioner.

FECCA Chairperson Ms Mary Patetsos said the extension would help more CALD Australians be able to make submissions to the Royal Commission.

“We know that for a whole range of reasons it can be difficult for some people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to make submissions to Royal Commissions,” she said.

“These reasons can include language and technology barriers, which is why FECCA launched a resource in July designed to help CALD older Australians and their families and carers tell their stories to the Aged Care Royal Commission in their own language.

“This extension will mean more CALD Australians will be able to use this resource to make submissions to the Royal Commission.

“FECCA also welcomes the appointment of former Federal Court judge the Hon. Tony Pagone as the third royal commissioner.

“Mr Pagone brings a deep understanding of issues facing CALD Australians to the role, as well as experience as a former president of CO.AS.IT – the organisation providing services for Italian migrants in Australian and their descendants.”

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

Contact: 0434 307 012 / media@fecca.org.au

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) today labelled the 60,000 case backlog in visa appeals before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) as unacceptable.

The Australian today reported that the backlog of active cases before the AAT has grown from 17,480 cases to 62,476 since 2016 – a 257 per cent increase.

FECCA Chairperson Ms Mary Patetsos said the Government must commit more resources to clearing the backlog before the Tribunal.

“The AAT has stated that it has not been able to keep pace with the growth in demand for reviews because there has not been a corresponding increase in the resources available to the Tribunal,” she said.

“The number of cases being rejected has increased because the criteria the Federal Government applies to the assessment of visa applications has become more strict.

“If the Government is going to take that approach, which is driving the surge in appeal cases, it should also make more resources available to the Tribunal to avoid a blow out in wait times.

“There are currently people with legitimate cases, who may have their decisions overturned by the AAT, who now have to wait much longer for their case to be reviewed.

“VISA applicants often put their lives on hold while they wait for these decisions and may be separated from family and loved ones during this time, so it’s important we don’t create a situation where this already extended process takes prospective migrants even longer.”

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

Contact: 0434 307 012 / media@fecca.org.au