The Commonwealth Government has committed to a massive $74.6 billion dollars in spending aimed at creating a quarter of a million jobs over two years and boosts social services, including measures to support the protection of women and their social and economic inclusion.

The unprecedented spending will see Australia’s debt spiral to $1.2 trillion in 2025 creating a decade of budget deficits.  

And there are significant implications in the 2021-22 federal budget for Australia’s migration and refugee settlement programs with population growth set to fall to its lowest level in a century.

The government has committed to maintaining the 2021-22 migration intake level at 160,000 and the number of refuge places will remain at 13,750 even though it is uncertain when Australia will be ab le to again welcome large numbers of newcomers.

Family and Skilled stream places will be maintained at their 2020-21 planning levels, with a continued focus on onshore visa applicants, including reducing the onshore Partner visa pipeline.

The budget assumes international borders will open in 2022 but arrival numbers will likely remain low until at least the middle of the year.

It also contains $53.6 million for English language and non-university higher education providers hit by the COVID-19 border closures including funding for 5000 short course places for domestic students, and grants to help providers improve online course delivery.

There is $16.9 million to fund mental health early intervention supports and preventive measures for migrants and multicultural communities, and address the cultural competence of the broader health workforce through the Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma, and Mental Health Australia for their Embrace Framework.

Also, $54.8 million will be spent over four years from 2021-22 to address the backlog of asylum cases within before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Amendments the Migration Act will act strengthen migrant worker protection and there is $4.6 million to speed up skills recognition for migrants seeking to work in technical and trade occupations.

An extra $1.1 billion is to be spent on women’s safety measures, including $261.4 million over two years to boost family, domestic violence and sexual abuse services.

Measures specific to CALD women include extending the Temporary Visa Holders Payment Pilot to the tune of $10.3 million and $6.8 million to continue the delivery of critical services for culturally diverse communities through to 30 June 2022 when the current national plan comes to an end.

There is also $25.9 million over four years for a range of further measures to support women affected by family, domestic and sexual violence, including expanding the ‘Safe Places’ program, further supporting temporary visa holders experiencing violence as well as $23.9 million over three years from 2021-22 to support refugee women and other migrant women’s safety and social economic inclusion.

Other key budget measures include:

• $17.7 billion over five years for aged care following the damning findings of the royal commission, including $.5 billion for 80,000 new home care packages;

• $7.8 billion to extend tax relief to low and middle income earners;

• $2 billion in funding for pre-schools and reforms to improve participation;

• $15 billion across the country for new road and rail infrastructure’

• $1.5 billion for employers to hire more apprentices and trainees next year, and;

• $20 billion for COVID-19 vaccines and health services, including money already spent.

Multicultural groups have welcomed the budget but stressed that access and information about the opportunities presented by the budget must be available to vulnerable groups in society, including migrants, refugee and members of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

CEO of migrant and settlement agency AMES Australia Cath Scarth welcomed the extra spending but said too often vulnerable groups found it more difficult to access opportunities in education, training and other services.

“Too often we see some groups left behind when these opportunities are rolled out. We know from experience that migrants and refugees and people from CALD communities find it difficult to understand what opportunities are available to them and to access those opportunities,” Ms Scarth said.

Ms Scarth welcomed the government’s commitment to maintaining the 2021-22 Migration Program planning level at 160,000.

“We know that migration in a key driver of our economic prosperity and it has made us the vibrant multicultural nation we are. So when the COVID-19 pandemic allows, we will need to reignite our migration programs,” she said.

“We also welcome the decision to keep the Humanitarian Settlement Program at 13,750 places in 2021-22 and over the forward estimates – even though it is uncertain when we will be able to welcome refugees again,” Ms Scarth said.

Ms Scarth said she was pleased to see extra resources in the budget to support CALD women and victims of family violence.

“The extra money to continue the delivery of critical services for culturally diverse communities is very welcome; as is the $25.9 million over four years for measures to support women affected by family, domestic and sexual violence,” she said.

“We also welcome the expansion of the ‘Safe Places’ program, further supporting Temporary Visa holders experiencing violence as well as the $23.9 million over three years aimed at improving refugee and women’s social economic inclusion,” Ms Scarth said.