A leading migrant advocacy group has slammed a federal budget measure aimed at increasing the time new arrivals must wait for welfare.
Permanent residents will have to wait four years for social security payments under a cost-cutting initiative designed to save $671 million.
The wait times will apply to family tax benefits, carer allowances and parental payments.
Mohammad Al-Khafaji from the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia said the savings measure made no sense.
"Permanent residents are our future Australians and should be made to feel welcome, secure and accepted," Mr Al-Khafaji said.
"These measures are deeply unfair and hurtful to future citizens."
He pointed out the Australian economy relied heavily on migrants to boost the population and fill critical skills shortages.
"With population growth central to our economic recovery, it doesn't make sense to put in place new disincentives for migrants to choose Australia as their future home, or for permanent residents in Australia to have children," Mr Al-Khafaji said.
