Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Asylum seekers

Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (13:45): Over the last 30 days dozens of people seeking asylum and refuge in Australia have been staging a protest to raise awareness of their plight, including in my electorate. Many of them have lived in Australia for 12 years in a state of limbo and desperation. All they seek is permanent protection and a safe home, but they are being denied this by Labor. Tens of thousands of people who sought asylum in Australia were subjected to the unfair fast-track system set up by the Liberals. This was a system designed to make it harder for people to seek asylum despite genuine fears of persecution if they returned to their countries of origin.

For 12 years these people – young people, mums, dads, children, babies, toddlers, grandparents – have been treated with contempt by our governments. Children have been denied the right to attend kindergarten and schools in some cases. People have been subjected to sudden, unexpected rule changes that have meant some of them have lost their work rights overnight and their livelihoods sometimes for years. Some of their children who were born in Australia and who have reached the age of 10 are being granted citizenship while their parents are on a deportation pathway, leaving these parents in an impossible position. What are these parents supposed to do? They deserve our compassion and care, but they have been met with absolute cruelty.

I joined them at a rally in the Docklands yesterday. They will be protesting outside the home affairs office until they hear from the government. Labor, please listen – please show some compassion. If you have a heart, please use it. It would cost you nothing to grant these people permanency. Our country would gain everything with them as our new citizens. Permanent visas now.