Asylum seekers in Australia must seek government permission to buy a pet

Australia will require asylum seekers to seek permission before buying a pet in a directive which was condemned as a cruel and “ridiculous” overreach.

A leaked government document said that asylum seekers receiving government payments will not be able to use the money on pets  or their "vaccination, equipment, toys and bedding" and those who want a pet may be required to prove that they can cover the costs.

"Approval for pet ownership must be sought from both the department and the landlord before a pet is purchased," said the document, according to a report by ABC News.

The move was condemned by refugee advocates and the Labor party, which described Peter Dutton, the immigration minister, as “the minister for hamsters”.

"What's next from this government? Mandating approval for the purchase of certain types of food, clothing or a bus ticket?" said Labor MP Shayne Neumann.

Labor MP Shayne Neumann.

"Peter Dutton should stop trying to be the minister for hamsters and hermit crabs and focus on his day job of securing our borders and keeping Australians safe."

In recent years, Australia has adopted some of the world’s toughest measures against refugees, including deporting all asylum seekers who arrive by boats to detention centres on Pacific islands.

The measures have been condemned by the United Nations and advocates as cruel, harsh and unlawful.

The immigration department said it had not introduced a “no pets” policy and described the  directive as a “minor change in operational policy". 

The department has not revealed whether goldfish, guinea pigs or birds will be covered by the directive or whether any asylum seekers had spent public funds on pets.

"The department received an increase in queries regarding our position surrounding pets and this has resulted in a minor change in operational policy," a spokesperson told Fairfax Media.

The directive will affect thousands of asylum seekers who are waiting for their refugee status to be determined.

Nick McKim, a Greens MP, said the directive was patronising, degrading and revealed Mr Dutton’s “authoritarian tendencies”.