Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. How have refugees contributed to Australian society—I ask you this on World Refugee Day today—and how has the Albanese Labor government supported those seeking Australia's protection?

Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank my friend the member for Bruce for this question. There is no-one in this chamber, I think, who works harder to stand up for humanitarian entrants with connections to their community than the member for Bruce—no-one who works harder and, frankly, few who have thought more deeply about these issues in the parliament.

Today is, of course, World Refugee Day. It's a day on which we honour those people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. We acknowledge and we celebrate the extraordinary and transformative contribution of nearly a million—950,000—refugees who have shaped Australia since World War II, who have made an invaluable contribution to this nation, people from Awer Mabil to Anh Do, Tan Le to Frank Lowy, and people in this place too. These people have brought with them significant economic, social and cultural benefits that have enriched this nation.

Right now, we need to reflect on this, because there are more than 100 million people displaced worldwide. Our government is committed to playing our part in addressing this global challenge. This Refugee Day, the Albanese government reaffirms our commitment to those in need. We also recognise that this means much more than helping someone get to Tullamarine airport. We need robust settlement support so that people, when they arrive here, can make their contributions, can fulfil their potential to contribute, as so many have done. We've been getting on with the job here and, in doing so, trying to bring people together in unity, not division. We've delivered on our commitment to convert people on temporary protection visas to permanent protection. Around 3,000 visas have been granted to date, and I'm pleased to advise the House that more than 94 per cent of those eligible have now submitted applications.

This is a government that will continue to be tough when it comes to securing our border, while never abandoning our sense of decency and compassion. We are committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and to delivering an orderly and legal pathway for people in need of our protection.

We're also on track, I want to inform the House, to fill the 2023-24 Humanitarian Program. This will include granting more than 7,900 visas to Afghan nationals, in line with a strong commitment across the parliament to this. As the then minister, the member for Mitchell, said when committing the places following the fall of Kabul, this government has always said that this commitment is a floor, not a ceiling. This is consistent with our government's approach, because we are determined to do more. We are determined also to change the tone of this debate, in this building and in our communities, to a debate that's anchored in compassion and generosity and the fair go, the essence of the Australian spirit—something that, of course, has been enriched by nearly one million refugees.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members can leave or resume their seats quickly and quietly.