Government and opposition MPs say there is merit in a proposal to have refugees go bush to fill vital fruit and vegetable picking jobs as a pathway to residency.
Government and opposition MPs are backing a proposal to have refugees go bush to fill vital fruit and vegetable picking jobs left behind by backpackers locked out of the country.
"There's a desperate need for warm human bodies prepared to work hard in the regions right now and for the next couple of years until the borders reopen properly," said Mr Hill, who represents the diverse south-eastern Melbourne electorate of Bruce."The idea to offer the chance to proven refugees in Australia to go bush and do this work in return for a permanent visa is worth backing," he said.
Home Affairs data obtained by the Refugee Council of Australia under a freedom of information request found only about a third of SHEV holders were in regional areas earlier this year, which it argues is because the lure of residency is too distant to be a good incentive.The council wants refugees who go bush to be given residency after one year, which Mr Hill and Mr Drum said was too short, naming two years as a preferable requirement.
"I think they appeal to me because they've been here seven to nine years already, they've been proved to be genuine refugees, and we would know by now if they're going to be unlawful in their day to day activities," Mr Drum said. "So it may be an opportunity where we send them to a region for a couple of years [and] they have to live there for 24 months before we offer an opportunity to stay here.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MPs back proposal to give refugees residency for fruit pickingGovernment and opposition MPs say there is merit in a proposal to have refugees go bush to fill vital fruit and vegetable picking jobs as a pathway to residency.
Read more »
MPs back proposal to give refugees residency for fruit pickingGovernment and opposition MPs say there is merit in a proposal to have refugees go bush to fill vital fruit and vegetable picking jobs as a pathway to residency.
Read more »
Nationals MP backed tougher koala habitat protection during inquiryThe Nationals MP sitting on an inquiry into koalas supported findings that habitat conservation for the marsupials needed to be strengthened, raising fresh questions over why his party threatened to bring down the government over the issue | p_hannam
Read more »
The intolerable awkwardness of landing a Bubble BuddyFinding a bubble buddy is the bizarre social conundrum only 2020 could land at the collective moccasins of Melbourne singles.
Read more »
Greek PM promises to build permanent migrant centre on Lesbos after Moira fireGreece will build a permanent migrant reception centre on Lesbos to replace the overcrowded refugee camp destroyed by a fire last week, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calling for closer European involvement.
Read more »
Greek PM promises to build permanent migrant centre on Lesbos after Moria fireGreece will build a permanent migrant reception centre on Lesbos to replace the overcrowded refugee camp destroyed by a fire last week, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis calling for closer European involvement.
Read more »