FOR the past month, Dandenong Journal’s Give Us A Hand campaign has backed Greater Dandenong Council’s push for more federal resources to help asylum seekers. CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS checked in with councillor Roz Blades on the council’s progress.
YOU don’t need to tell councillor Roz Blades there’s a lot riding on this campaign.
One mistake might set back the hopes of about 2000 asylum seekers living in Greater Dandenong.
“I don’t want to sacrifice the quality of (the submission). You can’t rush this – it’s an important thing that affects the lives of many.
“The process is slower than I would have liked but no council is saying ‘no’.”
Cr Blades, with the support of Greater Dandenong Council, is enlisting all Victorian councils to back the plea for federal help – the need to settle, feed and clothe the asylum seekers who arrive here with little or nothing.
At a forum in Dandenong last month, 19 Victorian councils as well as state government representatives, refugee advocates and welfare agencies got behind the bulk of a pro-asylum seeker joint statement.
Cr Blades said some suggested amendments raised during the forum were still being worked through.
When finalised, the statement will be sent to all Victorian councils, including Greater Dandenong, for endorsement.
Cr Blades hoped a delegation of mayors and Municipal Association of Victoria representatives would visit Canberra to present the statement by the end of the year.
“The aim is we go to the government with evidence that we need resources.”
One of the forum sticking points was raised by Glen Eira Council.
Its mayor, Neil Pilling, doubted whether “conservative middle-metropolitan” councils would back the statement’s call for work rights for asylum seekers.
“This is the only point in which we dipped our toe in politically and the only point of disagreement,” Cr Blades said.
“If there are work rights, there is not as much pressure on charities and churches to support people.”
She said she would ask the council’s fledgling asylum-seeker advisory committee to advise whether work rights was non-negotiable.
The council has advertised for expressions-of-interest to join the 14-member committee, hoping to rope in local charities and asylum-seeker organisations to share their expertise.
“They’re experts in their field, I know I’m not,” Cr Blades said.
“They have this knowledge that can help us.”
The council’s asylum-seeker and refugee communities action plan is expected to be launched within weeks.
The plan tackles issues such as social inclusion, housing access, employment and meaningful activity.
