Tasmanian working visa holders ‘abandoned’ by the Federal Government

The Juchem family wanted to make Hobart their permanent home, but like many other Tasmanian working visa holders, they are now facing an uncertain future.

THE Juchem family of Sandy Bay are typical of the 26,000 Tasmanian working visa holders who have been left with no Federal Government support as the coronavirus pandemic destroys jobs and devastates the economy.

John and Eline, originally from Brazil, have been in Australia for four years.

Baby Juca was born here, and the family want to make Hobart their permanent home.

John, Eline and Juca Juchem of Sandy Bay. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Juchem was been working as a restaurant manager at Bellerive, but now the business has dried up.

“I have a really good job. The owners of the cafe are really nice and I am really happy, but they had to close the restaurant three weeks ago and I have been stood down,” he said.

“We are on a skilled visa. Technically, the government asked us to come here to help improve the economy.”

$3M SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR VISA HOLDERS

It is a story repeated thousands of times across diverse industries: long-term residents, considered valuable and vital workers, who are ineligible for any Federal Government support and are now facing an uncertain future.

“We have some savings so my wife could stay home and look after our son during the first year, but we don’t expect them to last very long,” Mr Juchem said.

“So far we have been able to get a discount on our rent for the next two months. The landlord has been very kind.

“I’m not eligible for the JobKeeper allowance, there is no assistance from Centrelink available and we’re not eligible for Medicare.

“It is very stressful. If we knew the situation would go back to normal in a month or so it would be easier to plan ahead, but at the moment it is very hard.”

The couple are also trying to access their superannuation to supplement their dwindling savings but are mindful that will affect their retirement.

Mr Juchem said he was grateful for the State Government support, but it was a one-off payment that would be less than two weeks’ rent.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White on parliament lawns. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Labor leader Rebecca White said families like the Juchems had been abandoned by the Federal Government.

“Through no fault of his own, John has been left without a job, without income, and relying on the savings he had set aside to help the family manage through the first year of the baby’s life while John’s wife was not working,” she said.

“I keep calling on the Prime Minister to vary eligibility for the JobKeeper program, which can be done with the stroke of a pen, and extend the safety net to groups that have been excluded.”