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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2500 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

I am glad that today the Assembly is making a strong statement in support of refugees. However, the point that has to be made-Mr Pratt does not appear to understand appeal rights, which is a matter of some concern-is that refugees are caught up in appeals. They still have the capacity to appeal, but it does take time. Mr Pratt seems to believe that refugees should not be involved in any delay. The only way to prevent those sorts of delays is by getting rid of appeal rights altogether.

Mr Pratt failed to acknowledge that we have significantly reduced appeal rights for one class of persons in this country, that is, refugees. Labor and Liberal party members who have been supportive of those policies will look back with shame because the Howard government and previous Labor governments have fundamentally abused the legal rights of that one group of people. Mr Pratt suggested that it is cruel to let people get caught up in the appeal rights that they have left, but he should be condemned for wanting to get rid of those remaining rights.

I acknowledge that the ACT government is providing some services for refugees to make up for the Commonwealth slack. However, the housing shortage is absolutely critical. When I raised this issue in the Assembly, Mr Wood responded reasonably positively by stating that the government could implement a program to assist in accommodating refugees or people on TPVs. I urge the government to pursue that program with enthusiasm. If it does that we can genuinely state that the ACT is a refugee-friendly place.

MS GALLAGHER

(Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.52): I will make only a few comments in debate on this important motion as I believe that other speakers have covered most issues well. Some members said that the ACT is refugee friendly but they were not sure about the Speaker's motivation or reason for moving this motion. The Speaker's reason for moving this motion is clear. Community leaders in this territory must state publicly that they welcome refugees to the ACT, that they respect their cultures and that they can learn from their cultures.

Community leaders must make those statements in light of some of the current national political debates. This period in our history will be recognised as a period of shame. I do not look forward to explaining it to my daughter when she is old enough to ask questions. Mr Pratt said earlier that we were playing the emotional card or that we were using the emotional angle to gain support. I do not know how he can say that this debate, which is about people, is not emotional. (Quorum formed.)

I said earlier that this period in our history will be recognised as a period of shame. We cannot have a discussion about this issue without emotions becoming involved. Mr Pratt said that emotional cards were being played but we have examples of events that are occurring every day. I refer, for example, to the children overboard incident, Tampa and the continued imprisonment of people who have committed no crime. Those isolated examples signify that shame. I strongly believe that the blame for those events should be laid at our feet because we are the leaders of this community. I am embarrassed at the appalling way in which certain groups of people in our community are treated.

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