Maritime arrivals to be cut off from welfare in Budget immigration measure

EXCLUSIVE: The government plans to save nearly $50 million by taking away income support for thousands of so-called illegal maritime arrivals, who have been living in Australia without a proper visa for years.More than 2,000 people who arrived in Australia by boat could be cut off from income support and rental assistance by July next year under a new Budget measure, according to the Immigration Department. The government has been pursuing large numbers of what it calls illegal maritime arrivals who have not yet applied for a visa, despite some having lived in Australia since 2012. In the latest effort to engage the maritime asylum seekers, Immigration sent a wave of letters in January telling them they had 90 days to apply for a visa. The letters warned them their support services may cease if they do not lodge an application, the department said. Now, time has run out, and thousands of asylum seekers are set to lose their regular payments. The 2017 Budget revealed the government will resolve the protection status of boat arrivals, cutting off support for those who do not make contact. The measure will save an estimated $47 million over the next five years, Budget papers say. We have interviwed Dr Nazir Dawaar and you can listen to his full interview here

Paula Bronstein- Getty Images Source: Paula Bronstein- Getty Images