Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has defended the price-tag of the country's first private sponsorship program for refugees, with visa application fees ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
Under the pilot program, to begin next year, community groups will be able to sponsor refugees with family and support networks in Australia.
“I think this is a much better system which enables some flexibility,” said Minister Bowen. “It enables people who want to sponsor someone in a desperate situation to play a role in settling them into Australia - providing them with accommodation, and bearing some of the costs of the transition into Australia.”
Up to 500 places are to be offered as part of the federal government's plan to increase the refugee and humanitarian intake to 20,000 people. Both the participating community group and the government will be responsible for the welfare of the sponsored refugees.
“People will be able to sponsor a migrant into Australia under the refugee program, and it will only be community groups who are able to do that.
"We will assess that person to see whether they are a genuine refugee or genuinely persecuted in their country. Then we will work with that provider, they will need to pay an upfront fee.”
The Refugee Council of Australia has offered qualified support for the program, but says there are still concerns about the upfront visa application charge of between $20,000 and $30,000.
Minister Bowen has defended the high price-tag, saying it's necessary to ensure the cost of the program is not carried by taxpayers.
He told SBS it is necessary to pay for processing costs and the provision of certain welfare services, like Medicare, to refugees under the program.
“It's a two-stage process, so the final payment is not due until the visa is almost certain to be issued. And I think that strikes the right balance,” he said.
He believes the price-tag won't encourage economic refugees to take advantage of the sponsorship system since it's the community group that's paying for the cost; not the refugee.
“It's not a matter of the refugee finding the money; it will be paid for by community groups in Australia.”
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