500 refugees bound for Hobart and Launceston, government says

In a Department of Premier and Cabinet document dated October 23, 2015, the government says it supports between 150 and 200 refugees being allocated to Launceston, with between 300 and 350 set to be allocated to Hobart. Four state government documents showcase Tasmania’s ability to house the refugees on top of the regular annual intake of about 400 refugees. The documents highlight skill shortages in the state, occupations available as part of the state migration plan and settlement opportunities and support for the Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Two planning committees had been established to ensure a co-ordinated approach to planning for an increased intake, the documents show, as well as a Safe Haven Community and Government Planning Group to co-ordinate offers of assistance to support incoming refugees.

In September [2015] Premier Will Hodgman announced Tasmania wished to accept 500 additional Syrian and Iraqi refugees, following a humanitarian crisis that created worldwide headlines, but support services said they are yet to hear detail about the plans.

(Photo of Premier Hodgman by, The Advocate)

CatholicCare Tasmania’s Multicultural Service Program manager James Norman said the service was waiting to hear more official news about how many of Australia’s 12,000 additional refugee intake would go to Tasmania. ‘‘We are in regular contact with the Department of Social Services who fund our Humanitarian Settlement Services program,’’ he said. ‘‘We are already working with many humanitarian entrant families who regularly arrive in Hobart, and are ready and eager to support any additional families arriving from Syria if required.’’

Social Services Minister Christian Porter is yet to announce dates and locations for the Syrian refugee intake, with intakes for states and territories believed to be unfinalised. Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins called for more information about the process to be made available as soon as possible. ‘‘The community is ready to open up their hearts and homes to people who need somewhere to stay – providers and the community just want some certainty about when it’s happening,’’ she said.

Adam Langenberg, The Examiner, 9 December 2015