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December 14, 2011 – Following the recent Australia immigration announcement by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Minister, Chris Bowen MP, of the move to place in the community and out of detention centers the thousands of irregular maritime arrivals (IMAs) known as “asylum-seekers” who will be granted a bridging Australian visa, a war with the two largest states, with New South Wales and Victorian governments attacking the Immigration Minister for the move, has been triggered.

Last 25th of November 2011, the Gillard’s plan to move thousands of asylum-seekers out of detention centers and into the community as part of the new approach to asylum seeker management was announced. This recent Australia visa update has sparked outrage amongst the state governments of New South Wales and Victoria, which have attacked the policy. Both governments viewed the new immigration to Australia policy as a blatant exercise in burden shifting that would stretch police resources and threaten social cohesion.

So far, the new policy has only seen the first bridging Australian visas grants for 27 IMAs or asylum seekers who have applied for Australian visa.

According to Minister Bowen, “These men have gone through an assessment process prior to their selection, including identity, security and behaviour checks. They will live in the community on bridging visa to Australia while their asylum claims are completed and their status is resolved.”

The right to work and support themselves and the right to have access to necessary health services are granted to asylum seekers on bridging visa Australia.

Though there are only 27 bridging visa grants so far, Minister Bowen has announced in October that the department would further issue a minimum of 100 bridging visas a month. These visas are intended for refugees whose claims had not yet been finalized.

However, the actual figure is expected to be higher as these will depend on the rate of new asylum-seeker arrivals, which have been increasing since the major parties failed to strike a deal on the offshore processing.

One of the most outspoken critics of the announcement was NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher. He stated that the new policy was made without any consultation with the states, even though the states are the ones who will be expected to provide many of the services the asylum-seekers will need.

Likewise, also commenting on the latest policy is the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Nicholas Kotsiras. He stated his concerns that the settling of asylum-seekers in the community without additional funding for services like mental health, education, and housing may cause great disadvantage to asylum-seekers as they are dumped into communities without adequate support and without any concern for their welfare.

source:
visabureau.com