One of Australia's largest charity organisations says it is coming under growing pressure to provide financial support to asylum seekers who are not allowed to obtain work in the country.
Since August last year, asylum seekers who arrive by boat have no work rights and must survive on a reduced rate of the Newstart allowance- about 31 dollars per day.
The St Vincent De Paul Society says this is forcing many asylum seekers to rely upon non government charities to pay for basic items and cover their utility bills.
The chairperson of the society's migrant and refugee committee Frank Pelussy works as a volunteer providing support to asylum seekers in Perth.
He has told Michael Kenny, he has seen many cases of asylum seekers struggling to manage basic living expenses under the government's current policy.
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