Hobsons Bay, Hume and Whittlesea are among 14 Australian councils to sign a declaration to provide financial or in-kind support to asylum seekers, international students and others unable to access federal government income support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racial and economic justice organisations, Democracy in Colour and Welcoming Australia, say two million people have been “abandoned”.
The 14 councils which have signed a mayoral declaration also include Hobart, Sydney, Australian Capital Territory, Fremantle, Victoria Park, Leeton Shire, Randwick, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Charles Sturt, Inner West (NSW) and Cockburn.
Democracy in Colour national co-director Neha Madhok said the declaration showed local councils wanted to support everyone in their communities.
“The 14 councils that have signed this mayoral declaration are taking a stand with us and saying that it’s time all workers, regardless of visa status, are protected and taken care of during this pandemic,” she said
“The economic impacts of this pandemic have hit us all in ways that we might not have been prepared for, but we’re seeing now that migrants, international students, people seeking asylum and refugees have been left out of any income support from the federal government.
“The more councils that we have signed onto the pledge, the stronger our message to the Morrison government is.”
Welcoming Australia chief executive Aleem Ali said more councils were being urged to sign the pledge to demonstrate support for vulnerable people.
“People have been left without a safety net and are relying on the goodwill of local councils, state governments, community organisations and generous individuals to continue to pay their rent and put food on their table,” he said.
“Many local councils are standing in the gap for recently arrived migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum because they value communities where people of all backgrounds can belong, contribute and thrive.”
