Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (2 April) . . Page.. 1277 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

communities. They have adapted to our way of life, and their children have been educated here and call Australia home.

The argument is that, now East Timor is independent it is time for these people to go back to their native land. Mrs Cross argued the contrary position very well, which goes to the connectedness that so many East Timorese now have to Australia and the extent to which it has become home, despite their links to their native land.

The government and the people of East Timor have certainly made great progress, but in many areas food remains inadequate, electricity is not available, water and sewerage are limited and little or nothing in the way of education or health services is yet being provided in many parts of East Timor. There is a continuing threat of militia violence, which puts at risk not just the welfare of East Timorese but also the nation as a whole. Whilst we acknowledge the enormous progress that the people of East Timor have made, we all understand quite clearly the distance yet to travel.

The United Nations Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations last month urged the Security Council to delay a cutback to the United Nations mission of support in East Timor and its troop presence in that country. Why would the United Nations Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations request of the United Nations that the peacekeeping force remain, unless in his view there was a continuing threat? No person is better placed to express a view on the level of stability and safety within that country than the person charged with the management of the United Nations peacekeeping operations. There is no starker evidence than that of the undersecretary-general about what is yet to be achieved in East Timor.

The East Timorese leadership itself has also argued against any forcible return of its citizens. It is the view of the government of East Timor that citizens who left the country under threat to their wellbeing should not now be forced back to East Timor simply because independence has been gained. Mr Abel Guterres, currently director of the Australia New Zealand and Pacific Islander division of the East Timorese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the ABC's 7.30 Report very recently that East Timorese people should return to East Timor only if that is what they wish to do.

There is much concern in the Canberra community regarding the fate of so many East Timorese. The Canberra community has strongly supported the East Timorese in their struggle for freedom, and that support continues. One of the ways we can extend goodwill to the people of Dili and to East Timor and support them in the rehabilitation of their country is to support them in their aspirations, and those aspirations are that people be allowed to return if and when they are willing to do so. That in itself will assist East Timor in the rebuilding, restoration and recovery that are part and parcel of that nation's emergence as an independent nation.

We know through other experiences that temporary protection visa holders continue to be amongst the most disadvantaged people in our communities. That is the case even in the ACT. Temporary protection visa holders have almost invariably been through harrowing times, and they deserve our support. This motion, while directed at the circumstance of people from East Timor, is also relevant in sentiment to Kosovar families still living within our community. The majority of Kosovar families that came to

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .