Asylum seekers with jobs face 238-a-week bill and could have to pay for wifi and food

"This is a compassionate country, we are a better people for migration. Immigration is a good thing so let me be very clear about that. Supporting people who come here in a vulnerable situation is not just an important thing to do, it's an international obligation," he said.

"There does need to be common sense and there are people who are in our asylum systems who have a right to work - many of them do work - and we thank them for that and they make a contribution to society as well."

"The group said income limits varied by country and wages were mainly self-declared by asylum-seekers. However, the group said it would take between one and two years to introduce a contributions system because new technology and protocols would be required."

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