A diverse alliance of human rights organizations is urging the federal government to reconsider any plans to strip work rights from asylum seekers. They caution that such action might drive these individuals into unregulated jobs with potentially exploitative conditions.
The Albanese administration is reportedly weighing the option of revoking work rights for temporary migrants who have applied for protection visas, amid intensifying scrutiny of its migration policies.
While no official announcement has been made, the ABC revealed that this initiative was originally intended to be disclosed earlier this month in a now-cancelled speech by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. The proposal aims to curtail migration figures by targeting temporary visas and limiting international arrivals.
Insiders shared with the ABC that discussions are underway within the federal cabinet, focusing on addressing individuals who remain in the country beyond their visa expiry, particularly those on bridging visas.
The leaked reports have stirred concern among various community, charity, multicultural, and migrant groups. More than 160 entities have collectively sent a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlighting fears that the loss of work rights would push vulnerable individuals towards poverty and force them into precarious cash-in-hand jobs as a means of survival.
This would then make them “more vulnerable to wage theft, unsafe working conditions, exploitation and abuse. This is fundamentally at odds with Labor’s values,” the joint letter, which includes prominent groups like Anglicare Australia, GetUp, Human Rights Law Centre and Multicultural Australia, reads.
The organisations warned that their charities would be forced to shoulder the burden of support at a time when they’re already over-stretched.
They said most asylum seekers are unable to access Centrelink and revoking work rights would have “profound” consequences.
“For many people, the right to work is therefore the difference between being able to support themselves and being unable to pay for food, rent, and other essentials.”
The organisations acknowledged lengthy wait times in processing asylum and protection claims in the system, but proposed a number of alternatives as a solution, including investing money in ensuring applications are properly assessed by Home Affairs initially, and review tribunals are properly resourced, so that asylum seekers have a “fair chance” to make their case.
“We recognise that Australia’s protection system is facing serious backlogs. Those delays undermine confidence in the system and cause real harm and distress to people who can spend years living with uncertainty, waiting for a final decision. We all have an interest in a protection system that is fast, fair and effective.”
The government has faced intense scrutiny from both One Nation and the Coalition as it works to contain the country’s net overseas migration.
On Sunday, Burke confirmed his department was slowing the processing of working holiday visa applications as pressure mounts to reduce net migration numbers.
Working holiday visas — often called “backpacker visas” — allow travellers to extend their stay in Australia by undertaking work that addresses labour shortages in Australia — often fruit picking, farm work, mining, or tourism work in regional and remote areas.
One Nation wants to reduce net overseas migration — a projection based on how many people will enter and leave the country — to 130,000 people a year.
Labor’s long-term target is 225,000 a year over the next three years, though Burke said on Sunday the party’s migration policy was still being worked through and needed to go through a full cabinet process.
Coalition frontbencher Andrew Bragg raised eyebrows last week when he floated cutting net overseas migration to 180,000 a year, suggesting the figure could be reached through “modest reductions” to international students, working holidaymakers and post-study work visas — a mix he said would bring housing supply back in line with population growth.
The Coalition itself is yet to land on an annual migration target or a formal policy for reducing the intake.