Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

The government is sending out thousands of letters to asylum seekers living in the community, giving them just weeks to lodge their claims or risk being denied the right to asylum here. This is disgusting, because asylum seekers may not be able to renew their visas or will be cut off from critical payments unless they can lodge their applications within clearly unattainable time frames. Make no mistake: the government is setting asylum seekers up to fail, despite the life-changing implications of their not getting it right.

We are talking here of people with little English who are being faced with forms of over 100 pages in which any misstep could end their opportunity of permanent residence in Australia. Moreover, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection has told community legal services that extensions to these time frames will not be accepted, which tosses aside a longstanding agreement with lawyers working in the sector. No wonder legal services are bracing for an expected 300 per cent increase in demand for their help. They are already seeing people who have been cut off from support payments within days of receiving one of these letters. This shameful victimisation of vulnerable people must stop. Only a government devoid of humanity would treat human beings in this way.

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