Matt Gregg (Deakin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, I wanted to wish a happy Nowruz to my local Iranian community and to everyone who celebrates this special day. The member for Menzies and I marked Nowruz with a morning tea with the Iranian community leaders from across our electorates, which are neighbours in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and it was fantastic to be joined by the Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, Minister for Cyber Security and Minister for the Arts.

It is a very difficult time for our Australian Iranian community. While any damage to or diminishment of the Iranian regime is welcome news to many in our community, the immediate threat to the safety of friends and family still in Iran is incredibly distressing. There is disagreement and tension within our Iranian Australian diaspora as well. They are not a monolithic group. They've got different perspectives on what the military operations are achieving in Iran and how to go about achieving a society that is more peaceful and democratic going forward. However, they are united in desire for peace and united in desire for greater respect for human rights for the people of Iran going forward. They're all hopeful that that can be achieved one way or another.

It is, in a democratic society, normal and healthy to have discussions about what's going on in the world and share differing perspectives on how to best go forward, but I know it's been frustrating that there have been some bad-faith political actors, people who should know better, attempting to box the Iranian Australian community into a single view. Ultimately, like all Australians, the community is driven by the love and concern they have for friends and family. It was fantastic to have the minister out for the morning tea to hear from the community their very real concerns about being able to contact loved ones, given the communication blackout; about how their expression might be interfered with or lead to retribution by the IRGC for loved ones who remain in Iran; and about cohesion within the community as well.

I really want to thank the House of Persia for hosting us that morning—particularly Rana and Afrooz, who do a great job representing the Iranian Australian community in Deakin. We heard overwhelming support for the efforts to keep people connected to the regime and the IRGC out of Australia. There is also very understandable concern that innocent family members may be unable to come to Australia if they're caught up in changes to the immigration system. The minister announced yesterday that there will be a pause, a restriction for a period of six months, for those on Iranian passports holding visitor visas from coming to Australia, unless they get a permitted travel certificate. It was good to be able to have an honest conversation about the impact of those laws, clarifying—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives

Sitting suspended from 09:55 to 10:16

In relation to the arrival control determinations, I note that the minister has confirmed that sympathetic consideration will be given to the parents of Australian citizens for permitted travel permits. I would like to thank the Iranian Australian community in Deakin for their continued engagement and wish all Iranian Australians a happy Nowruz.