Welfare crackdown: Asylum seekers booted off Centrelink

The federal government is moving to cut welfare payments to hundreds of asylum seekers who are temporarily in Australia to receive medical treatment.

The move will slash $200-a-fortnight payments and public housing to up to 400 asylum seekers, forcing them to work or face being sent back to Nauru, Manus Island or their country of origin.

A Department of Immigration document said income support would cease from Monday and a ‘final departure Bridging E Visa’ would be issued, giving many just three weeks to find their own accommodation.

‘What we’re saying to these people is that until you leave, we do not want you continuing to be a burden on our welfare system,’ government minister Dan Tehan told Sky News.

The Federal government is pushing to cut welfare payments to hundreds of asylum seekers who came to Australia to receive medical treatment. Pictured, asylum seekers at Manus Island in 2014

'What we're saying to these people is that until you leave, we do not want you continuing to be a burden on our welfare system,' government minister Dan Tehan said

‘What we’re saying to these people is that until you leave, we do not want you continuing to be a burden on our welfare system,’ government minister Dan Tehan said

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the party was seeking advice on whether the policy can be overturned when the Senate returns in a week’s time.

‘This announcement from [immigration minister] Peter Dutton is just unspeakable cruelty. We’re talking about people who are traumatised, people that are vulnerable,’ he said. 

‘We do call on members of the crossbench and the Labor Party to support us in doing everything we can to stop this unspeakable cruel act getting through the Senate.

‘If this is a disallowable instrument, it simply requires a majority of the Senate to stop it. So the question is for Bill Shorten and Labor – will you end this cruelty?’

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was a new low for the government of Malcolm Turnbull. 

The move will slash $200-a-fortnight payments and public housing to up to 400 asylum seekers, forcing them to work or face being sent back to Nauru, Manus Island or their country of origin. Pictured, a generic image taken from the Australian Government's Department of Human Services website

The move will slash $200-a-fortnight payments and public housing to up to 400 asylum seekers, forcing them to work or face being sent back to Nauru, Manus Island or their country of origin. Pictured, a generic image taken from the Australian Government’s Department of Human Services website

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the party was seeking advice on whether the policy can be overturned when the Senate returns in a week's time

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the party was seeking advice on whether the policy can be overturned when the Senate returns in a week’s time

‘Malcolm, this is not strong. This is cowardly and cruel. It’s your weakest move yet,’ he said in a Facebook post. 

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge could not confirm the precise number of asylum seekers at risk, but said there wouldn’t be any further provision of taxpayer support in Australia.

Mr Tudge said the move was consistent with the principle that anybody who arrives by boat would not be settled in Australia.

‘They will be settled elsewhere. That’s what this is about,’ he said.

He did not think it was unreasonable to withdraw taxpayers support if they refuse to return back to Manus or Nauru.

Human Rights Law Centre executive director Hugh de Kretser said the asylum seekers in question have been prevented from working.  

‘And now, completely out of the blue, with no notice whatsoever, they’ve been told tomorrow, you have no income we’re taking all of your income away and in three weeks time we’re taking your homes away,’ he said.

A file image of Asylum seekers staring at media from behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre

A file image of Asylum seekers staring at media from behind a fence at the Manus Island detention centre

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was a new low for the government of Malcolm Turnbull

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was a new low for the government of Malcolm Turnbull

Advocate Natasha Blucher said the asylum seekers were ‘very, very employable’ and wanted to work.

But with their history of trauma and the short notice, getting on their feet in ‘this time frame is absurd and it’s impossible and it will end with children homeless.’ 

The move comes as the federal government’s third and final trial site to drug test new welfare recipients was announced as Mandurah, Western Australia. 

It joins other trial sites in western Sydney and Logan in Queensland. 

Trials will start at the beginning of next year and will be focused on helping job seekers overcome drug problems and on the path towards securing a job.

A Department of Immigration document said income support would cease from Monday (stock image)

A Department of Immigration document said income support would cease from Monday (stock image)

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said Mandurah was chosen because illicit drug use in this region is considerably higher than the national and Western Australian averages.

‘It is not about penalising or stigmatising people … we want to help people in this situation,’ Mr Porter said.

‘Failure to do so simply leaves people at risk of a cycle of welfare dependency.’

Up to 5000 new recipients of Newstart Allowance and Youth Allowance will be drug tested during the two-year trial.

Those who return a positive test will have 80 per cent of their benefit payment put onto a Basics Card which limits the amount people can withdraw as cash.

Remaining funds will be reserved for essentials such as rent, child care, food and household needs.

After a second positive test, the person will have to see a doctor at the government’s expense and undergo any treatment proposed in order to continue receiving benefits.

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