Fairfield Mayor appeals for increased support for resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees

FAIRFIELD’S mayor has appealed to the State and Federal governments to “step up and be accountable” in the resettlement of refugees.

The NSW Coordinator-General for Refugee Resettlement Peter Shergold (left) met with Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone to discuss refugee resettlement. Picture: Timothy Clapin

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FAIRFIELD City Mayor Frank Carbone has appealed to the State and Federal governments to “step up and be accountable” to ensure the resettlement of refugees in Fairfield does not negatively affect existing residents.

The mayor met with NSW Coordinator General for Refugee Resettlement Peter Shergold in Fairfield last Wednesday and called for additional long-term resources for refugees in the areas of employment, infrastructure and health.

“I have advocated quite strongly that if the Federal Government wants to resettle this many refugees, the equivalent of an entire suburb’s population in one location in such a short period of time, that they are responsible for providing necessary infrastructure and services,” Cr Carbone said.

“They need to commit additional resources for long-term resettlement and to maintain the quality of life for the existing community.”

As of February 2017, 9382 refugees arrived in Australia as part of the Federal Government’s humanitarian intake of Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Settlement Services International indicated a total of 4700 refugees – from both the special and regular intake – had arrived in Fairfield in 2016. SSI confirmed the organisation was supporting 3700 refugees in Fairfield.

Peter Shergold, Frank Carbone and Fairfield councillor Dai Le at the council chambers. Picture: Timothy Clapin

Professor Shergold said Cr Carbone’s concerns were justified, but that the NSW Government’s resources across health, education and employment had a strong focus on Fairfield.

“Is that as much as the mayor would like? Undoubtedly not. But he is at least able to see that the pressure that Fairfield feels under is being addressed, at least at the state level,” he said.

In the 2016-17 budget, the NSW Government allocated an additional $6.1 million to the South Western Local Health District. In education, $91.3 million was appointed to support increased enrolments of students from refugee backgrounds, while $4 million of additional funding was granted to Legal Aid NSW.

The Federal Government has allocated $638.1 million over four years towards the additional intake.

Dai Le, Peter Shergold and Frank Carbone. Picture: Timothy Clapin

Prof Shergold said refugee resettlement needed not only short-term solutions, but a long-term plan.

“The importance is that these services help people to become self-reliant,” he said. “That the kids get educated, that people learn English, that they get their overseas qualifications acknowledged and they’re able to get employment.

“What we don’t want is refugees who find that they are still dependent on support services five years from now.”

Fowler federal Labor MP Chris Hayes also voiced concerns about the lack of a long-term plan for refugee resettlement in Fairfield.

“People in my community obviously have a reputation of being very charitable in the way we work with refugees, but when we talk about taking such a large number, I think the government could have had a more foresighted plan,” he said.

Carmen Lazar, manager of the Assyrian Resource Centre, said despite the increase in refugee arrivals, the “pressure has been a bundle of joy”.

“The centre has a number of volunteers who dedicate their time to accommodate to their needs, however, the only form of pressure that is present is the lack of funding which can be used to initiate further service to support refugees,” she said.

She added that Fairfield was an ideal place for new arrivals to call home.

“Fairfield is where their language is spoken, their churches are located and most importantly where their family surrounds them.”