NEW measures to benefit refugees on temporary protection visas (TPVs) do not go far enough, says chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Joseph Grech.
Immigration Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone, announced the changes on August 24 and they took effect three days later.
Senator Vanstone said current and former TPV and temporary humanitarian visa (THV) holders would be able to apply for mainstream visas and be able to apply concurrently with protection visa applications or while they held a new return pending visa (RPV).
The RPV would be for those no longer needing protection, and they would be given 18 months to leave Australia.
Senator Vanstone said TPV holders who had settled well into regional areas would be major beneficiaries of the changes.
Bishop Grech of Sandhurst said the change would be welcomed by refugees in regional areas and their communities but it did not go far enough for TPV holders living in cities.
The fact the changes applied only to current and former TPV holders and not to future arrivals was also a concern, he said.
