Media Release: Coalition’s migration blame game offers division, not solutions

Media Release, Tuesday 6 October 2026

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre rejects the Coalition’s newly announced policy. At a time when people are struggling with soaring rents and mortgages, grocery bills and stretched essential services, the ASRC says political leaders should be focused on solutions that make life more affordable and secure, rather than blaming migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.

The Coalition has this morning announced it would slash Australia’s humanitarian intake to just 10,000 places a year and require people applying for protection from within Australia to lodge their application within 30 days of arrival or lose work rights, along with a raft of other concerning changes. 

The proposed 30-day deadline for protection applications would dramatically reduce the effectiveness of Australia’s refugee protection system and force people into poverty and destitution. Whether a person needs protection depends on the danger they face if returned, not how quickly they lodge paperwork after arriving in Australia. Refugee protection needs can emerge years after arrival – Ukrainians who were already overseas when Russia launched its full-scale invasion are a clear example of that.

Even for people who already fear persecution, it is incredibly difficult to make a protection claim immediately after arrival. Survivors of torture, trauma, family or gender-based violence may take time before they are able to disclose what has happened to them. The protection system in Australia can be extremely complicated and hard to navigate – even obtaining specialist legal assistance is difficult to do in such a short timeframe. 

Instead of attacking the people caught in our protection system, our leaders should be investing in making our protection system fairer, more efficient and more robust, and taking action on the real issues. Australia needs policy changes that actually make housing more affordable, reduce cost-of-living pressures, strengthen healthcare and essential services and ensure people can earn enough to live securely. None of these issues will be fixed by attacking refugees and people seeking asylum. 

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, said:

“Angus Taylor has once again shown that politicians are out of touch with everyday Australians. Instead of focusing on the real problems, like how to help people pay their rent, manage their mortgage or put food on the table, the Coalition is joining the far right’s blame game.

“The numbers they are talking about cutting are our friends, neighbours and colleagues. Halving the refugee intake would be disastrous for people seeking safety and their families. While Australians are getting on with their lives and supporting each other, no matter where we come from, the Coalition is choosing to point the finger at people we have proudly welcomed as part of our community for decades.

“Reintroducing a 30 day rule is recycling a previously failed policy, and is not a real solution. Forcing people to apply for protection within just 30 days of arriving in Australia would tear at the foundations of our refugee protection system. Countries change, governments fall and conflicts erupt. Someone who was safe to return home when they arrived here may be in grave danger months or years later.

“Australians deserve real solutions, not politicians trying to turn us against our neighbours so we stop asking why they have failed to fix the problems affecting everyday peoples’ lives.”

ENDS

For media enquiries or interviews, contact:

Natasha Blucher on 0412 034 821 or media@asrc.org.au