Mean-spirited Budget will harm Australia’s global reputation

christianreview | 입력 : 2015/05/13 [14:09]

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has labelled the 2015 Federal Budget as ‘mean-spirited’ and ‘short-sighted’ for its failure to respond to the world’s growing humanitarian crises.

“The massive cut in the overseas aid budget and the Government’s failure to begin reversing its 2013 cut to the Refugee and Humanitarian Program will be viewed internationally as signs that Australia is indifferent to the massive displacement of refugees in the Middle East or the large-scale humanitarian crises in Asia and Africa,” RCOA’s chief executive Paul Power said.

“If the Abbott Government was interested in doing its fair share, and cared about the growing international challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees, it would be increasing the number of people we resettled and providing more aid where the needs are greatest, to challenge displacement at the source.

“This Budget is mean-spirited to the world’s refugees, it continues to demonise asylum seekers who are Australia’s responsibility, it will inflame tensions with the region and continues to undermine our global reputation as a generous global citizen.

Funding to international aid was reduced by a further $1 billion from 2014-15, totalling a staggering $11.3 billion in cuts since the Abbott Government was elected. Though Australian aid was not reduced to Nauru, PNG nor Cambodia, who Australian is utilising to offshore refugees.

Australia’s resettlement places for refugees in 2015-16 will remain at 11,000 places, 1,500 below its 2013-14 peak. The Budget reaffirms the Government’s decision to maintain this level for another two years, before planned increases in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

“The increase to the refugee resettlement program is needed immediately, to assist the many nations dealing with the largest global displacement crisis in 65 years.

“The government is sending conflicting messages on budget austerity while squandering billions of taxpayer dollars on harmful offshore detention, where its own investigations show sexual, physical and psychological abuse are rife. In 2015-16, the Government will allocate $2.3 billion to the detention and compliance-related programs for asylum seekers who arrived by boat.

“Reducing aid in the Asia Pacific and Africa regions, where the majority of the world’s very poor reside, will only undermine Australia’s already tarnished reputation” Mr Power said. “A sustainable solution to the refugee and asylum seeker issues the world faces will be negotiated multilaterally and within our own region. By eviscerating Australia’s aid budget, the likelihood of countries in our region taking the Abbott Government seriously when it comes to having these discussions becomes more unlikely.

“Australia should be dealing with the refugee and displacement issues that now encapsulate over 51 million people by tackling the issues that cause displacement at their source. The conflict in Syria has caused more than 4 million refugees, in our own backyard hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have fled or are in danger in Burma, and Australian support to both these crises has been at best miserly and tokenistic, when considering the scale of the need,” Mr Power said.

“Australia, one of the most affluent nations on earth, and one of the few very wealthy countries surrounded by developing countries, has a responsibility to its own people, to the region and to the international community to be a better global citizen. If Australia continues down this current path, the negative outfall of such arrogant policies will affect Australia’s security, trade and long term prosperity.

The Budget includes some positive measures in the Education and Training portfolio, with $14.5 million being allocated in 2015-16 for an expansion of the Adult Migration English Program to include refugees on temporary visas. In the Social Services portfolio, the Government has allocated $22.1 million over four years to support young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to build skills to improve their participation in education and work.
 
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