By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CASEY Council has refused to endorse – or give reasons why it doesn’t support – a multi-council campaign for more federal funding to support 800 asylum seekers living in its community.
Twenty councils, led by neighbouring Greater Dandenong, have endorsed a joint statement calling for more funding for aid, statistics, social inclusion, services’ co-ordination, housing and education for asylum seekers.
According to a statement from Greater Dandenong council, the provision of asylum seeker services is increasingly falling on councils and community groups.
There is a “genuine risk” that asylum seeker programs will fail to meet the needs – if demand for resources continues to grow, the statement said.
Casey community strengthening manager Janette Green said the council had discussed the joint statement and would not join the campaign.
It instead “resolved to take action” and wrote in January to the Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton and his department secretary for more support for asylum seekers living in Casey.
“Council will continue to advocate for more effective resources and co-ordination at the Federal, State and local government levels to support asylum seekers.”
A council spokesman said he couldn’t elaborate on why the council decided not to join the other councils’ campaign because the discussion was held in a closed meeting.
Casey deputy mayor Louise Berkelmans told a council Refugee Week forum last Wednesday that asylum seekers and refugees had complex settlement needs.
She said the week’s ’With courage let us all combine’ theme was a “call for unity and positive action” to make a more welcoming and inclusive community.
“There are still many opportunities to work together and do better.”
The joint statement’s spearhead Greater Dandenong councillor Roz Blades said she didn’t know why Casey had opted out.
“Unless they think they’re doing all right on their own… I really can’t say anything to that.”
She vowed to “stay with it” after presenting the joint statement to federal MP and social services assistant minister Mitch Fifield this month.
Cr Blades said her hope was that extra funding would be provided in next year’s Federal Budget.
“I’m reasonably confident because I’m really good at nagging.”
Greater Dandenong sought to present and discuss the statement with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton in Canberra last week but was unable to get an appointment.
The statement was also presented to Isaacs MP and opposition attorney-general Mark Dreyfus who will raise the matter in Parliament on 22 June.
Senator Fifield said he advised the council that the government provided funding for a range of support services for migrants and refugees living in the community.
