Refugee groups are urging the Turnbull government to create a new community-sponsored resettlement program that would allow for up to ten thousand people to immigrate to Australia over the next five years.
The proposed scheme would work in addition to the current Australian humanitarian migration quota, and Australian communities, individuals, families and businesses can nominate humanitarian visa applicants for settlement, but must be able to prove the refugee has strong employment prospects and can be cared for during their first year in the country.
Save the Children, the Refugee Council of Australia, Amnesty International Australia, the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, Welcome to Australia and Rural Australians for Refugees are all behind the proposed initiative.