Ms Jodi McKay has called on the Premier to raise this issue and stand with temporary visa holders at National Cabinet.
Workers are being stood down without pay across the nation, but the more than 1.1 million temporary visa holders throughout Australia who also face the prospect of potentially finding themselves without a job are unable to use the Jobkeeper or Jobseeker payments. This includes the more than 480,000 people on student visas.
These temporary visa holders pay federal income tax and the GST and other consumption taxes, which directly contribute to the NSW state budget.
If temporary visa holders are not supported during COVID-19, many will be forced to choose between leaving the house to work, or self-isolating at home. This could potentially put their own health, along with the health of others, at risk.
“No one should have to choose between their health and their job,” Ms McKay said.
“But when people start losing their jobs, workers on temporary visas have no safety net, no way to keep food on the table, and in many cases, no ability to travel overseas.
“Now is not the time to treat parts of our community differently. We are all in this together.
“Temporary visa holders deserve access to the same economic support measures as everyone in the country. And I know our State’s multicultural communities feel the same way.”
