Page 1812 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016
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We want asylum seekers to be able to live in the community once initial health, security and identity checks are completed within 30 days. We acknowledge that there may be specific reasons why this cannot happen, but we think a court should decide that. It should not be the default policy of the federal government. We want an end to other forms of punitive or discriminatory treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
There is no doubt that Australia’s reputation on managing refugees is shocking. The Australian’s government’s harmful policies are causing long-term damage to people; people who are stuck in camps on Nauru and Manus Island. There is no doubt that the attitudes of the Australian government are woeful, and this was more than demonstrated in the comments—and particularly their tone—made by Mr Dutton. There is no need for comments like that. It is fear-mongering at its very worst to speculate that including refuges in our community is detrimental to the wellbeing and financial security of other Australian residents. It is the kind of divisive politics that do not belong in our current political debate.
In the face of such federal policies it seems that the least we can do is ensure that refugees are given the best possible opportunities when they are at last allowed to live in our community. The ACT’s refugee welcome zone was established last year in Refugee Week. The ACT was the first state or territory to do so. The people who have struggled hard to come here are often escaping traumatic and difficult situations. Many have left family behind. Many have lost family and friends on the way. Most are determined to live a better life and to offer a better future to their children. We are in the privileged position of being able to offer help in building that better future.
Syrian refuges are beginning to arrive in Australia, and the ACT will be part of that resettlement program. Many government and community organisations in the ACT support refugee integration into our community. Canberra’s public education system plays an invaluable role for newly arrived people. We had 564 enrolments in 2015 at our introductory English centres. Not all of these students of course were refuges, but this is a service that is of great value to our refugee families who arrive here in Canberra.
I know that the minister has been involved in conversations with the Canberra Business Chamber about facilitating a pathway to employment for newly arrived people. The Canberra Business Chamber was optimistic and supportive about the opportunities that could exist in the ACT, and I welcome that positive engagement from key leaders in our community.
I think there is merit in exploring further how we can support refugees into meaningful work in the ACT, as we know that this is the most powerful way of engaging people positively in a society and to enable them to gain the independence they need to prosper as members of our community. I hope the government is able to continue conversations with the business chamber and other organisations to ensure that we can remove any barriers that may exist to refugees being able enter into the workforce.
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