Budget entrenches inequity for too many, says ASC

Budget entrenches inequity for too many, says ASC

This year’s Federal Budget takes bold steps towards a fairer, kinder Australia that better responds to the needs of its people – except for the thousands who have fled trauma and persecution in search of safety here.

Last night’s budget has consigned people seeking asylum to another difficult year without a financial safety net and without funds necessary to survive while their cases are assessed.

We also learned the government spent more than $1 billion – $400 million above what was previously known – to send people to Nauru for offshore detention, showing cruelty remains high on the government’s agenda.

The CEO of the Asylum Seekers Centre, Elijah Buol OAM, said: “For many, this budget means another year of hunger, another year of homelessness, another year of needless hardship.”

But, he acknowledged, it was not a budget devoid of heart.

The ASC welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to expand Australia’s skilled migration program, including the investment of $85.2 million to fast‑track migrant trades workers into the national workforce.

Mr Buol also commended the extra $7.7 million allocated to extend the Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration program. This vital initiative helps people from refugee backgrounds find jobs and supports their contributions to Australia’s economy.

“These are meaningful steps towards ensuring refugees and people seeking asylum can contribute their skills, rebuild their lives with dignity, and participate fully in Australia’s communities and economy,” Mr Buol said.

However, he lamented a continued lack of funding for a program called Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS), which saw its budget nudge higher from $20.2 million in 2025-26 to $26.1 million for 2026-27.

A decade ago, the program’s funding was worth $300 million.

“We welcome last night’s increase for SRSS funding, but the eligibility criteria are unreasonably tight, and the amount is still nowhere near enough,” he said.

SRSS payments amount to a maximum of $49 a day for those most in need.

“It remains a drop in the ocean compared to what Australia continues to spend on offshore detention.”

By comparison, the 2026-27 Budget allocated nearly $1 billion for a cruel, secretive program that outsources offshore detention to Nauru.

“Spending on offshore detention is out of control,” Mr Buol said. “The government was around $400 million over budget in the last financial year. These expensive human rights abuses must end.”

Mr Buol urged the Prime Minister to honour the sentiments he made after the last election, a vow to “show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need”.

“Prime Minister,” Mr Buol said, “it is time to show that kindness to the many people who have risked their lives to be here and who crave the chance to contribute to the Australia of your aspirations. It is time to restore funding for the SRSS and humanise the broken system that punishes people who seek asylum.”

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Media contact:

For further information or to request an interview, contact Conrad Walters on 0466 418 515 or conrad.walters@asylumseekerscentre.org.au.