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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2459 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

It is very pleasing that the Australian government has already allowed 160 such visas. My small amendment seeks to take the word "grant"out of the third part of Ms MacDonald's motion and turn it into the word "process". It is probably more appropriate that the correct process is followed.

There are huge numbers of refugees and stateless people round the world and I think that we could put many cases for many different people to be allowed into the country, but I still think that there is an appropriateness in having a process in place that winnows out those who are attempting to rort the system. I am not saying that anyone here is attempting to do that. You have only to read the document that the Liberal Party also has been supplied with to understand the plight of these people.

I cite the example on page 136 of Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, whose father was sent to a re-education camp because he had served in the army of South Vietnam. He was imprisoned two more times for allegedly participating in anticommunist activities. He was eventually released because there was no evidence against him. The family was sent to a new economic zone, but escaped from that. Until 1985, they lived without household registration. In 1987, the applicant's brother died at sea during his escape attempt.

The applicant attempted to escape Vietnam and was successful the third time, but spent many days at sea. She understood from the screening interview that, given that she had no money, refugee status would not be given. I think that is a very sad tale as to, firstly, what happened in her former country and the fact that when she did reach the Philippines some officials clearly were not acting in the way they should.

I think that it is important that we hear these stories. Indeed, I have been visited by representatives of the Vietnamese community and they have given me a copy of a submission. I understand that three families or just three applicants, I am not sure which, intend to come to the ACT. I think that they would be welcome. I am sure that they would be more than welcome in the local Vietnamese community and that they would be worthy additions to our society here.

The opposition will be supporting the motion. I do think it is appropriate that we get the process right, so I hope members will allow the change from "grant"to "process". I think that it is appropriate that all people are treated fairly inside the system. But with that in mind, it is important to make sure that Mr Ruddock knows the opinion of the Assembly. I note that recently Timorese people were allowed to stay. I know that Ms Tucker is writing letters on behalf of the Kosovar refugees who came here three or four years ago. I have also spoken to Mr Ruddock about those people to say that we think that they should be allowed to remain in Canberra as well as they are now part of the community and it would be a great gesture to allow them to stay here.

With one small amendment, which I will now move, the opposition will be supporting this motion. I move:

Paragraph (3), omit "grant", substitute "process".

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