THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 5 | FEBRUARY 2016
NEWS
03
ETHNIC AFFAIRS
BUSINESS
Concern over humanitarian
resettlement program changes
Addressing disruption from banks’
withdrawal in remittance business
THE Federation of Ethnic
Communities’ Councils of
Australia (FECCA) expressed
concern over proposals outlined
in a leaked Government Cabinet
document signaling changes to the
humanitarian resettlement program
and the increased monitoring of
migrants.
Changes include the enforceable
integration framework to assess aspiring migrants’ suitability for life in
Australia; enhanced access, use and
protection of sensitive information
to strengthen intelligence-led, riskbased decision making; continuous
assessment of arrivals from pre-visa
stage to post-citizenship conferral; a
revamped citizenship test and citizenship pledge; and tougher screening of
the Syrian intake across the humanitarian program to ensure the acceptance of individuals with the highest
probability of successful integration.
“In this climate, when it is so important to promote harmony and inclusivity, it is alarming to specify
changes to the humanitarian program
based on religious beliefs and ethnic
background,” . To identify particular ethnic groups as undesirable for
integration and increase surveillance
on migrants creates anxiety and division”, said FECCA chairman Joe Caputo.
FECCA has previously expressed
concerns about proposals to make
changes to citizenship eligibility and
the test.
“We believe that a strengthsbased pre-citizenship process with an
emphasis on civics engages and empowers migrants,” Mr Caputo said.
“The document also recommends
bringing forward proposals to reform
the visa framework, removing “direct access to permanent residency to
better align visa and citizenship decision-making with national security and community protection outcomes.”
“Citizenship status and permanent residency are symbolic of acceptance and highly valued amongst immigrant groups, particularly refugees.
“The removal of permanent residency would eliminate any assurance
of full participation in the Australian
community for refugees.”
As a former refugee, FECCA’s
New and Emergingcjhairman Alphonse Mulumba said: “Humanitarian entrants demonstrate a greater commitment to Australian life having been forced out by threat of per-
secution and fear of returning to their
homeland.
“There is also substantial data to
indicate that they display immense
entrepreneurial qualities, contributing to the social, economic and cultural fabric of society.
“We are concerned about potentially disadvantaging and excluding
some people who have so much to offer Australian society.”
FECCA supported a non-discriminatory humanitarian resettlement
program with a long-term vision, and
one that is responsive to the growing
global needs for refugee resettlement.
“As a signatory to the refugee
convention, we call on the government to stand by our moral and international obligations and give refugees
the right to be resettled in Australia”,
Mr Caputo said.
“We reiterate our concern on the
proposed changes disproportionately
singling out of refugees and migrants,
which has the propensity to damage
social cohesion and a sense of community belonging.”
A TECH business
has been
developing a worldclass, state-ofthe-art technology
solution over the
past two years to
address disruption
resulting from
banks’ withdrawal
from the remittance
sector.
According to TRC Technology Group, Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator Austrac recently reported that during the 15
months to April 2015 banks in Australia closed the accounts of more
than 700 remittance businesses.
“No doubt many more have had
their accounts closed since then,”
the Group said.
“The solution, which has the
support of a major Australian bank,
delivers to its remittance business
partners the follwoing:
“Access to over 50 currencies
at competitive foreign exchange
rates backed by major international banks.
“Cost effective delivery into
any bank account in the world, as
well as other electronic payment
delivery channels.
“Full compliance in accordance
with government regulations, and
all AUSTRAC reporting.
“Robust money laundering and
terrorism financing risk management sufficient to exceed the Australian and international regulators
and the TRC Technology banking
partners.”
The Group said it provided a
solution that could enable smaller
remittance businesses to recapture,
grow, protect and preserve their
customer base.
“The solution also allows new
entrants access to the digital remittance space, without the high cost
of development, on a small fee per
transaction basis,” it said.
TRCTechnology Group was
established in Sydney in early 2013
to develop and deploy an electronic cross-border payment platform
to serve the international remittance sector.
“A key element in the design
of the platform is robust anti-money laundering and terrorism financing (AML/CTF) risk management
and AML/CTF compliance,” the
Group said.
“The platform was deployed in
2014, followed by end-to-end testing and further development of operational processes.
“Following the decision by the
banking sector to close the accounts
of hundreds of Australian remittance businesses, TRC has been negotiating with bank risk management teams to ensure compliance
with their risk requirements.”
The Group’s operating model
has been approved by our Australian and UK bankers.