Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor opposes this motion because we see through Senator Anning's petty political games. Labor supports a non-discriminatory migration program that has been in place for decades. If people face persecution, regardless of where they are from or the colour of their skin, they are able to apply to Australia's humanitarian visa program. Australia's protection obligations are clear and set out in the Migration Act. Regrettably, the Minister for Home Affairs feels differently. The minister has called for special attention—a different set of standards—which would undermine Australia's non-discriminatory program. If Senator Anning was serious about humanitarian resettlement, he would support Labor's commitment that we took to the last election to increase the annual humanitarian intake to 27,000 by 2025.