By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
ASYLUM seeker figures confirm a “humanitarian” crisis is developing in Dandenong, according to councillor Roz Blades.
According to Department of Immigration and Border Control figures, the numbers of “illegal maritime arrivals on bridging E visas” living in Greater Dandenong surged to more than 2730 in June 2014 – up nine-fold from 310 in June 2012.
As a suburb, Dandenong was home to a nation-high 1723 asylum seekers; the next most populous was Auburn in NSW with 1150.
Among the top Victorian suburbs was second-placed Doveton (407), Springvale (326), Noble Park (311) and Dandenong North (225).
Cr Blades has been leading a multi-council campaign for the Federal Government to better support the many hardy but overwhelmed asylum-seeker helpers.
Many asylum seekers depend on volunteers, charities and agencies for food, clothes and shelter.
Many survive without work rights on meagre welfare benefits, which are pegged at 89 per cent of the dole, and suffer social isolation and boredom.
“All the more reason for people to come with us on this,” she said about the statistics.
“It’s a humanitarian issue now.”
Cr Blades was awaiting other Victorian councils to adopt her campaign before leading a delegation to Canberra.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan, a co-architect with Cr Blades on the council’s asylum seeker action plan, said the numbers had risen by 700 in the past six months despite fewer boat arrivals.
He said it suggested that asylum seekers were attracted to Dandenong from other parts of Australia.
As part of its Give Us A Hand campaign, the Journal has been highlighting the efforts of over-worked volunteers and groups.
Springvale Benevolent Society president Joe Rechichi last week said he was personally submitting for more federal funding.
A shrewd financial manager of the society’s finances, Mr Rechichi said this was the first time he felt the society was struggling to cope with demand – including the wave of asylum seekers.
“The dollar doesn’t go any further; the cost of living is higher.”
AMES chief executive Cath Scarth said the migrant help agency – which is putting out a call for more volunteeer English tutors – had been coping with a growing clientele for a “period of time”.
She said Dandenong was attractive because it had been welcoming people from “different walks of life” for decades.
“It’s a successful community in that way, with a very sophisticated community sector.
“For asylum seekers living on less income support, they need that additional support.”
