In leaked cabinet documents first sighted by Fairfax Media, the Department of Social Services has raised a number of issues with Turnbull government plans to reform Australia's visa system.
"The proposed reforms could undermine Australia's social cohesion and potentially increase the risk factors that may lead to violent extremism by creating a two tier socity where migrants are treated substantially differently Australian citizens," the document reads.
They were prepared for Secretary of the Department of Social Services Finn Pratt by Evan Lewis, the Group Manager of Multicultural, Settlement Services and Community, Department of Social Services.
Included in the reforms is an additional wait period for access to social services, including welfare and "integration testing".
It is not clear whether such testing would increase literacy and understanding of Australian values, the document states, instead "changing the longstanding national narrative to one which treats all migrants with suspicion".
By delaying social welfare payments, the reforms would also put vulnerable migrants at risk, potentially contravening Australia's international obligations.
"DSS [Department of Social Services] strongly recommends that Humanitarian Entrants be excluded from any social security changes relating to visa reform proposal.
"The welfare safety net is key to their successful long term settlement as they ... generally have no other means of support.
"DSS considers that those who choose to take a provisional pathway to permanence are not the same as temporary residents and should receive different (better) treatment in terms of payments and supports than those not making any ongoing commitment to Australia."
Greens leader Richard Di Natale called out the plans as dog-whistle politics.
"What we are seeing is the (immigration) minister attempting to exploit fear and division within our community, playing the race card at a time when we need unity."
With AAP
