PORT Augusta Mayor Joy Baluch says she "doesn't give a damn" about 60 refugee children who want to play soccer in the city, greeting their request with a terse "screw them".

"I don't give a damn about them, because I'm too busy trying to care for my community," she told The Advertiser  yesterday.

Immigration Department representatives had requested that the council's activities officer arrange a soccer competition for the teenage asylum seekers.

It was to be discussed at last night's council meeting.

But Ms Baluch said she was sick of "turning somersaults" to try to secure much-needed funding for the town while there was a "seemingly endless pit of money" for refugees housed in the area........