(Encouraging Self-sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants) Bill 2018
The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia opposes the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Encouraging Self-sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants) Bill 2018.
The Bill's proposal to extend waiting periods for social security and family assistance payments for newly arrived migrants will impact vulnerable groups within the migrant community, including women facing domestic violence, precarious workers, pregnant women in insecure jobs, and children in low-income families. These measures risk perpetuating cycles of vulnerability and poverty.
The submission argues against the idea of differentiating between 'deserving' and 'undeserving' migrants based on arbitrary distinctions like residency duration or migration history.
By denying basic social support on these grounds, the Bill will violate fundamental human rights and contradict core values of fairness and solidarity.