Tony Abbott must not raid vital Settlement Services and multicultural funding in next week’s Budget to offset increased spending in other areas that are merely designed to save his job.

Settlement Services funding, including Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS), Complex Case Support (CCS) and the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), play a hugely important role in assisting newly arrived migrants contribute to the economic and social success of multicultural Australia.

These services should not be sacrificed to save Tony Abbott’s leadership and if he thinks cutting these services would be a “dull” move he is sorely mistaken.

Newly arrived humanitarian migrants require this support to help them settle in Australia and build the networks and structures that are necessary to live happy and healthy lives in their new home. Any cuts to these services would have a devastating impact on these individuals and families.

We know migration contributes to the economic success of our nation and Labor believes new Australians should be assisted to maximise their economic potential.

Unfortunately though, we know this Budget is not about doing what’s right for multicultural Australia, but about saving Tony Abbott’s job.

WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 2015