The survey revealed that asylum seekers were asked to pay to submit an asylum application, for renewal of documents, for the services of an interpreter, for the issuing of documentation, and for help from a refugee status determination officer. All these services are offered by the department of home affairs free of charge.
“Section 20A of the Refugees Amendment Act, implemented on January 1 2020, provides that the director-general 'must as soon as possible after commencement, and from time to time thereafter, direct all members and administrative staff of the Standing Committee, Refugee Appeals Authority and all members of staff at any Refugee Reception Office, including all persons who are not members of staff but who perform any function at such an office, to be subjected to measures to test the integrity...