Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

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At the 2006 census 53.9 per cent of the Burma-born aged 15 years and over had some form of higher non-school qualifications compared to just lower than that, 52.5 per cent, of the Australian population. Also, among Burma-born people aged 15 years and over the participation rate in the labour force was nearly 60 per cent and the unemployment rate was 5.3 per cent, comparable to the rest of the Australian population. At the 2006 census the estimated rate of Australian citizenship was 91.6 per cent, compared to 75 per cent for all overseas-born immigrants. That is a truly remarkable figure which is a testament to the incredible level of integration this community has undergone in such a short period of time.

I have a very strong Burmese community in my electorate. Like the Burmese communities spread around Australia they are vibrant, energetic and add value to the social fabric of my electorate. I have attended numerous functions and events held by the community but I would like to make special note of the Burmese Medical Association who have worked tirelessly to further the Burmese cause in Australia, including a fundraising dinner to support those affected by the tragic cyclones which hit Burma in 2008 and 2010.

Burma is among the poorest countries in South East Asia with almost one-third of its 50 million people living in poverty. Burma ' s development remains severely constrained by a lack of progress towards real democracy, economic reform and improved service delivery. Ongoing conflict has resulted in refugee populations fleeing to neighbouring countries with estimates of between 500,000 and up to one million people internally displaced. As it stands now, millions of Burmese people are unable to access food, basic healthcare, clean water or education for their children. The situation is particularly bad in eastern Burma where child mortality rates under five are nearly double Burma ' s national average and women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth.

The Australian Burmese community are strong advocates for aid and as Australians their contribution to their homeland is significant. Australia recognises the immense development task faced by current and future generations of Burmese. For this reason, Australia ' s aid to Burma has increased by 65 per cent since 2009-10, from $29.1 million to $47.6 million in 2011-12.

In 2010 Australia moved the Burma Aid Program from primarily a humanitarian focus to a longer term development plan. The Australian government ' s investment in the aid program in Burma is achieving results that are improving the lives of ordinary Burmese. For example, in partnership with other donors we have reduced the cost of education for poor families by providing education material such as books, stationery and backpacks to 918,000 children in 2,440 primary schools. We have helped 2,700 marginalised ethnic families each access one acre of land through the establishment of community forestry plots in remote areas of northern Rakhine state. Families have increased their income through harvesting their land. Our support to the multi-donor Three Diseases Fund has seen malaria treatment provided to more than 1.48 million people and antiretroviral therapy to nearly 16,000 people living with HIV.

On the Thai-Burma border Australian support to refugees living in camps has led to the number of women in key leadership roles increasing from 11 per cent in 2006 to 32 per cent in 2010. Programs we fund that directly deal with refugees include $1.6 million to provide basic relief for over 140,000 Burmese living in refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border, $1.5 million to provide free primary healthcare to refugees, migrant workers and other vulnerable people who cross the border from Burma to Thailand, and $1.5 million to support vocational training programs for refugees in three camps on the Thai-Burma border to broaden opportunities for future employment. Burma is one of the few countries where the current generation of schoolchildren is likely to be less educated than their parents and grandparents. Australia ' s support for the education sector has helped increase the proportion of primary school students who have stayed up to grade five in target schools. This has increased from 62 per cent in 2007 to 76 per cent in 2010.

During Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd ' s recent visit to Burma in July he urged the Burmese authorities to make concrete progress on human rights issues, including the release of political prisoners, of which there are over 2,000 still remaining, and other democratic and ethnic political figures and resolving longstanding ethnic conflicts peacefully.Australia and the international community stand ready to assist Burma. Australia has always considered the Burmese people our friends and our two countries are woven together by the people that we share. When Cyclone Nagas struck, Australia responded generously despite our political differences with the Burmese authorities. That was the right decision then and it is the right decision now to work together with the international community to do more for the long-term future of Burmese people.

The government will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Burma and to work with other international partners, the UN and other stakeholders on issues of justice and accountability. I commend my local community for the work they do in keeping the plight of Burmese people in the front of our minds and for advocating for a strong humanitarian response. They are a fine community and a welcome addition to our diverse nation.

Proceedings suspended from 13:30 to 16:04

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