"Starved out of Australia: The workers without money or food", 3 May 2020

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...1.1 million people in Australia [are] most vulnerable to the pandemic-induced downturn as they are on temporary visas and have no access to the unemployment support available to local workers.

The Morrison government spent big on supporting millions of local workers through its $130 billion JobKeeper subsidy.

But Australia has been far less generous to temporary migrant workers and international students than countries such as Britain, Ireland or New Zealand.

Support is piecemeal and limited. Instead migrant workers have to run down savings, access superannuation if they can, sell their household goods or rely on charity.

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Since the crisis began, demand for emergency food has risen about 50 per cent to more than one million people a month, according to Foodbank Australia chief executive Brianna Casey, whose organisation distributes food to 2400 charities.

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The federal government's approach has been to shut the borders to foreigners and to be tough with temporary migrants already here.

It contrasts with some state governments, including South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, which have offered grants to struggling visa holders and international students.

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Particularly exposed to this crisis are another group of 60,000 to 100,000 workers here without a valid visa. The pandemic has made their already vulnerable position more precarious.

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