By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A CENTRE in Dandenong that feeds and clothes asylum seekers has been forced to close its doors to families released on community detention.
With an anticipated influx of families released from detention centres set to arrive in Dandenong, Asylum Seekers Centre manager David Spitteler said he had to make the unenviable decision because the centre has been “swamped”.
In part, it’s to ration the centre’s fresh and packaged food aid among the 319-and-rising asylum seekers registered there.
Mr Spitteler will only register individuals with bridging visas, and even then limit aid to six weeks. He has also excised asylum seekers living in other nearby suburbs, restricting help to those in Dandenong, Doveton and Hampton Park.
The asylum seekers receive an allowance equivalent to 89 per cent of Centrelink benefits — little more than $200 a week.
“These people have nothing,” Mr Spitteler says. “But if I didn’t put in these controls, I’d have up to 800 people turning up. It shows people aren’t getting the support they need.”
Figures show that as of June last year, 318 of the state’s 818 asylum seekers on bridging visas were believed to be living in Greater Dandenong.
In this month’s federal budget, the government announced more families would be released from detention centres to live in community detention.
Isaacs federal MP Mark Dreyfus said funding was provided to Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre and other settlement service providers to help people become independent and learn crucial skills to live in Australia.
“The alternative to putting asylum seekers in the community is to detain them for years while their claims for protection are assessed,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“This is not only more expensive, but it is bad for people’s mental health and well-being.”
■ The Asylum Seekers Centre needs flat-screen computer monitors. If you can help, call David Spitteler on 0409 416 744. Asylum Seekers Resource Centre needs tradies and IT specialists to help prepare its Dandenong branch for opening next month. To help, call 9326 6066.
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