Australia posts code of conduct for asylum-seekers
Asylum-seekers face welfare payment cuts, cancelled visas or detention if they breach code
Asylum-seekers living in Australia face having their welfare payments cut, visas cancelled or being placed in detention if they breach a new code of conduct forbidding anti-social behaviour that sparked condemnation on Tuesday.
The code, which came into force on Saturday and applies to those on bridging visas, contains a list of expected behaviour for living in Australia – including that applicants obey all laws, including road rules.
This is clear discrimination against a specific group of people and it needs to be called out for what it is
It says visa holders must co-operate with all reasonable requests from the government about their visa status, including to attend interviews, and obey any health direction issued by the immigration department’s chief medical officer.
In addition, they cannot “harass, intimidate or bully” anyone or engage in “any anti-social or disruptive activities that are inconsiderate, disrespectful or threaten the peaceful enjoyment of other members of the community”.
Earlier this year Scott Morrison, who was then an opposition politician but is now immigration minister, called for “behaviour protocols” for asylum-seekers after a Sri Lankan man was charged with sexual assault.
“If you are found to have breached the code of behaviour, you could have your income support reduced, or your visa may be cancelled,” the code states.
