ASRC welcomes overdue funding to fix broken visa processing system, yet more needs to be done

Media Release
5 October 2023

The ASRC welcomes the Government’s announcement of long overdue increases in resourcing to fix the broken visa processing system, which the refugee sector has been calling for as a critical step towards restoring a fair refugee status determination process.

The $160 million package will address visa processing delays by investing in new members for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and judges at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and funding for legal representation.

The Government will also increase resources for the Department of Home Affairs to reduce delays in processing protection visa applications.

Under the Morrison Government, the lack of adequate resourcing, defunding of legal assistance, and unmeritorious appointments to the AAT created significant barriers for people seeking asylum to obtain a fair outcome.

Ending processing delays would mean refugees and people seeking asylum are no longer exposed to years of uncertainty, at risk of poverty, health deterioration, and exploitation. Access to legal advice will ensure people have the opportunity to engage fairly with the system.

However, it is disappointing that the Albanese Government has resorted to Morrison-era rhetoric which targets refugees who have been treated unfairly.

The ASRC urges the Government to continue reform of unfair policies that harm people seeking asylum, such as providing work rights to people seeking asylum as they are vulnerable to exploitation without these protections.

Hannah Dickinson, Principal Solicitor at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre:

“The system created by the Morrison government fundamentally lacks integrity: it sets people up to fail. Complexity, delays and hostility have made it inaccessible to most people without legal support. As a result, refugees are up to 7 times more likely to have their status recognized at review stages if they are represented by a lawyer.

“We regularly witness refugees being denied protection visas because of defects in the system. This includes victim-survivors of severe gender-based violence and people from countries such as Afghanistan and Sudan.

“Comprehensive reform is urgently required. Addressing delays and a lack of support is a key first step, but to succeed, it is critical the government ends the untenable politicisation of refugee policy.”

Sanmati Verma, Acting Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre said:

“The asylum system is broken and urgently needs reform, starting by ensuring that all people who seek protection in Australia are properly represented and have their cases fully heard. But this cannot be achieved by rhetoric that criminalises and demonises people seeking asylum, creating an atmosphere of suspicion that is guaranteed to infect decision-making and see people fail in their claims.”

Saajeda Samaa, former refugee who has experienced long delays while waiting for protection, said:

“I have family members who are still waiting for their permanent visas after 10 years. The immigration system is designed to punish people who come to Australia in search of safety. No one would leave their home and families behind until that’s the only choice they have to make.

“The immigration system is complex and expensive as people cannot afford to have lawyers. It breaks my heart to see what communities are going through in the indefinite years of limbo and uncertainty that is causing severe mental health issues, financial hardships and years of family separation. The government needs to understand that their policies are causing suffering to thousands of human beings who are losing their hopes and dreams and in some cases their lives too.

“There is an urgent need of humanising refugee policies to allow people to live a meaningful life.”

–ENDS–
Media contact: media@asrc.org.au or 0402 651 002.
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