Tag: Discounted Travel in NSW

Discounted Travel

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, NSW

Mike Baird grants discounted travel to asylum seekers

Date
June 26, 2015 – 1:05PM
Jacob Saulwick

Transport Reporter

View more articles from Jacob Saulwick

“This group is one of the most vulnerable in our society”: Mike Baird. Photo: Chris Pearce

Asylum seekers in NSW will be eligible for the most generous travel concessions in the country, after Premier Mike Baird said the state had a responsibility to help those who had nowhere else to turn.

Asylum seekers who meet certain criteria will, from next year, be eligible for travel at $2.50 a day – the same travel concession available to those on the Gold Pension Concession Card.

“NSW is Australia’s economic powerhouse, but there is little point in having a strong economy unless we use this strength to help the vulnerable among us,” Mr Baird said in a statement.

“NSW has shown we are prepared to help asylum seekers in our community and we want to do even more,” he said.

“This group is one of the most vulnerable in our society, often living below the poverty line. Evidence suggests that lack of access to dispersed services is a key impediment to their health and well-being.”
Premier Baird’s stance marks a clear contrast with the federal government’s treatment of, and rhetoric towards, asylum seekers. The Premier, whose politician father Bruce resisted the Howard government’s policy toward asylum seekers, has already said Prime Minister Tony Abbott should do more to help the vulnerable.
Under the policy announced on Friday, applicants for concession travel must either be holding a bridging visa or applying for one, they must be over 17 years of age and receiving aid from a designated agency.

Mr Baird said: “Until now, it has been the non-government community agencies funding transport for asylum seekers in NSW. This change allows those NGOs to be putting more of their limited resources into food, counselling and housing – where it is needed most.”

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said: “We are providing these travel discounts to asylum seekers to help them participate more fully in our society and access a range of social and community services.

“Many of the asylum seekers in NSW are at the very start of the process of applying for a protection visa. This means that they need access to a wide range of services in order to navigate this process and rebuild their lives.”

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-baird-grants-discounted-travel-to-asylum-seekers-20150626-ghyevf.html