MEDIA RELEASE: Charity and community organisations sound the alarm over proposed changes to asylum rights

Media Release, Monday 17 August 2026

Over 160 community, charity, multicultural and migrant organisations have written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning that reported plans to remove work rights from people seeking asylum would force thousands of people into destitution and place enormous new pressure on already overstretched charities and community organisations.

Media reports have alleged that the Albanese Government is considering removing work rights from people seeking asylum after the initial stage of their application, even while they are lawfully exercising their rights to independent review. This could see tens of thousands of people who are currently working, paying rent, buying food and supporting their families suddenly lose their only source of income and be left with no way to meet their most basic needs.

People seeking asylum are generally unable to access Centrelink, while only a very small proportion (around 3%) can access limited government-funded income support. For many people, the right to work is therefore the difference between being able to support themselves and being unable to pay for food, rent and other essentials.

If the Albanese Government pursues this policy, the charities say the consequences will fall directly on them, and that they are already overstretched. They say that removing the right to work would also push people towards cash-in-hand employment and make them more vulnerable to wage theft, unsafe working conditions, exploitation and abuse.

You can read the joint letter here.

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

“If the Albanese Government decides to pursue this harmful approach, it is an attack on both the basic rights of people seeking asylum and those who support them. We are talking about tens of thousands of people who are working hard to support their families right now – putting food on the table and contributing to their communities. Forcing them to stop working and become dependent on already overstretched charities and communities to survive is outrageous.”

“The Prime Minister must listen to the organisations who will be left dealing with the consequences of this policy. In the obsession with immigration numbers we cannot lose sight of people’s basic rights and livelihood. This move would force people who can support themselves into poverty, with charities then expected to keep them fed and housed.”

Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of Australian Council of Social Service said:

“At a time when so many people are struggling financially, it simply makes no sense to take work rights away from people who are currently supporting themselves and their families. The social services sector is already stretched. Stripping people of their ability to earn an income would force them into poverty and dependence on charities for food, housing and other essentials, when they are willing and able to support themselves through work. It would be unconscionable.”

Maiy Azize, Acting Executive Director, Anglicare Australia said:

“Taking away someone’s right to work would push people who are supporting themselves and their families into poverty and destitution overnight.”

“This change would create exactly the kind of division it claims to prevent. Forcing people out of work, into poverty and onto the margins of our communities will not bring Australians together.It will only do the opposite.”

Adama Kamara, Co-CEO, Refugee Council of Australia said:

“The proposed changes will create new problems while doing little to solve the existing ones. Families could be separated for longer, people seeking asylum could be pushed into financial hardship and important safeguards designed to ensure fair decisions could be weakened. We need reforms that genuinely solve the challenges with Australia’s migration system, not measures that shift the consequences to vulnerable people and communities supporting them.”

ENDS

For media enquiries or interviews, contact:

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