Refugee advocates slam Government for Budget slashing humanitarian intake amid coronavirus

Refugee advocates have slammed the Federal Government for slashing Australia's humanitarian intake by 5,000 people a year in Tuesday night's Budget.

Key points:

The humanitarian intake has been cut from 18,750 places to 13,750

The budget papers suggest cutting the humanitarian intake will save almost $1 billion

Refugee advocates say offshore detention spending negates any savings

The Government has introduced a new cap of 13,750 places a year, down from 18,750 - cutting the number of people allowed into the country for humanitarian reasons by more than a quarter.

Jana Favero, director of advocacy and campaigns at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), said the move was "a blow for the humane treatment of refugees".

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-07/australia-humanitarian-intake-cut-budget-refugees-coronavirus/12737242