2016-04-19
19/04/2016
The Greens call on the Queensland Labor government to follow the lead of the Victorian government in boosting funding for community legal centres working on the refugee claims of people living in the community.
Greens spokesperson Andrew Bartlett says ““the Victorian Labor government has just announced a two year funding package through Legal Aid to provide desperately needed help for people trying to get their refugee claims fairly considered.”
“Queensland can and should do the same.
“There are approximately 3,500 asylum seekers in Queensland who are eligible for assessment of their refugee claims. A relatively small amount of extra funding over a couple of years will assist these people hugely.
We have community legal centres and pro bono lawyers with the expertise to assist asylum seekers, but they are currently struggling under a massive load and serious funding constraints.”
“A funding boost would reduce the burden on other community services supporting asylum seekers living in the community while they wait for their claims to be determined.”
“As well as being the right thing to do, spending some extra money now on ensuring asylum claims are done promptly and correctly will save money down the track.”
"The ironically named ‘fast-track system’ introduced by the federal government is taking a very long time to resolve claims, and makes it absolutely critical that people have proper legal support in getting their refugee claim assessed.
“Proper legal help will ensure people have a better chance of avoiding being sent back to persecution and serious danger. It is also strongly in line with the public view that people who are already in our community should be treated fairly and humanely.”
For further comment, contact Andrew Bartlett on 0418 743 789.