The Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) expresses deep concern about the framing of migrants and refugees in the Budget Reply delivered by the Leader of the Opposition, Angus Taylor MP, particularly in relation to Australia’s housing challenges.
RCAA acknowledges that housing affordability and housing supply are urgent national issues affecting millions of Australians. However, attributing these pressures to migrants and refugees’ risks inflaming division, creating unnecessary fear, and undermining the enormous economic, social, and cultural contributions these communities continue to make to Australia over decades.
“Housing shortages result from long-term structural policy failures, underinvestment, and planning challenges, rather than from the presence of individuals who have come to Australia seeking safety, rebuilding their lives, and contributing their skills, labour, and entrepreneurship,” the RCAA spokesperson said. “We urge political leaders to focus on evidence-based solutions rather than rhetoric that unfairly targets vulnerable communities.”
Refugees and humanitarian entrants represent only a small proportion of Australia’s overall migration intake, yet research consistently demonstrates that they contribute positively to regional economies, workforce participation, innovation, small business growth, and long-term nation building. Across Australia, refugee led organisations actively support housing transitions, employment pathways, community integration, and social cohesion, often with very limited resources.
RCAA calls for a constructive and solutions-focused national conversation that includes:
- Investment in social and affordable housing- expanding housing supply for all low-income households, including newly arrived communities.
- Stronger support for refugee settlement services- ensuring people rebuilding their lives have stable housing, employment pathways, and community support.
- Evidence based migration policy- recognising the long term economic, demographic, and workforce benefits of migration rather than framing it as a burden and misguiding Australians.
- National leadership on social cohesion- political discourse that strengthens unity, fairness, and inclusion rather than division.
RCAA chair, Parsu Sharma Luital said, “In November 2025, Australia granted its one millionth refugee visa since the arrival of refugees after 1947. This is not just a statistic, it is a proud national milestone that Australia should celebrate. Refugees and migrants have helped build modern Australia through hard work, resilience, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. As even Angus Taylor MP acknowledged, migrants and refugees have always contributed to Australia.”
“Refugees and migrants are not the cause of Australia’s housing crisis, but they can absolutely be part of the solution when supported through fair, humane, and forward-looking policies.” We call on all political leaders to engage responsibly and avoid narratives that stigmatise communities who have already endured hardship, displacement, and trauma,’ said Mr Luital.
RCAA stands ready to work with all sides of politics to ensure Australia’s housing strategy is inclusive, future focused, evidence driven, and grounded in respect for human dignity, fairness, and Australia’s proud multicultural values.
RCAA is a membership based, independent refugee-led national peak advocacy organisation that works closely with people with lived experience to amplify the voices of grassroots refugee communities and people seeking asylum. RCAA also works collaboratively with government agencies at all levels, peak bodies, settlement services, and stakeholders across states and territories to strengthen consultation, partnership, and support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
For media enquiries, please contact RCAA spokesperson at [email protected]
