Thread by @drlouisehansen

The Federal Government has sole responsibility for immigration matters: policy, border control, visa grants and conditions, funding and support, and refugees and people seeking asylum held in immigration detention. 1/16 #March4Justiceau #TimeForAHome #Auspol

You are encourage you to write to the Honourable Peter Dutton MP, Federal Minister for Home Affairs to raise your concerns. Ministers, such as Honourable Leanne Linard MP, Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, among others 2/16

share your concerns about the impact of many of the Federal Government’s policies on refugees and people seeking asylum and is aware of serious reports of the deteriorating mental health of refugees and people seeking asylum held in secure immigration detention including, 3/16

for example, at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel. During 2020, the Queensland Government, through Multicultural Affairs and the previous Minister for Multicultural Affairs, advocated, including at a national level, for action to address reported 4/16

deteriorating mental health and suicide risk of people in secure immigration detention. Minister Linard was pleased to hear, in early March 2021, Minister Dutton had released a number of refugees and people seeking asylum from secure immigration detention, 5/16

including from the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, into the community. However, the Minister is deeply concerned people have been released at short notice and with little support.
The Minister has heard directly from service providers, 6/16

funded under the Queensland Government Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance Program, many individuals released from secure detention may face financial and housing stress and mental health and health impacts. 7/16

Charities, community organisations, concerned citizens and the Queensland Government have been stepping in to provide support. The Minister has publicly condemned the Federal Government’s release of detainees into the community without adequate support 8/16

and on 8 March 2021, wrote to Minister Dutton asking the Federal Government to provide the necessary support to people being released.
The requirement for additional emergency assistance and support is a direct consequence of a Federal Government policy decision. 9/16

Under the Queensland Multicultural Policy: Our story, our future the Queensland Government has made a commitment to support refugees and people seeking asylum, by reducing barriers and creating opportunities for them to participate and contribute to all aspects of life. 10/16

Since 2017-18, the Queensland Government has provided $4.688 million to Communify Queensland to deliver the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance program, including financial, case management and mental health assistance to people seeking asylum 11/16

and vulnerable refugees on temporary visas in Queensland. The Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs is continuing to engage with key non-government organisations and other key Queensland Government agencies 12/16

in relation to support options for people released from the Kangaroo Point Alternative Place of Detention and Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation, as well as people released from community detention in late 2020. 13/16

Following the release of people from community detention in late 2020, Queensland Government agencies have provided short-term assistance in areas such as emergency housing, mental health and access to legal services. Discussions with agencies are continuing. 14/16

If you require any further information or assistance in relation to this matter, please contact Ms Julie McDougall, Acting Executive Director, Multicultural Affairs, Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs on 3215 2514. 15/16

Source: Michael Frawley, Policy Advisor. Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. 16/16