Senate debates

Monday, 23 August 2021

Questions without Notice

Prime Minister

2:03 pm

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I don't accept the insinuation there around a lack of action in relation to the actions and support our government's provided. Australia, unlike many other countries, has had in place special visa arrangements for some time to support those who've worked alongside our forces and others who have been serving in Afghanistan. That's what has enabled us to see some 1,900 visas specifically provided to Afghan locally engaged staff and their families at risk of harm all the way back to 2013. Recognising what was happening in Afghanistan, we worked hard to make sure that we expedited processing around such applications during the course of this year. That's what enabled more than 430 Afghan locally engaged staff to access those visas and be resettled in Australia in the period since 15 April. Clearly, the deteriorating security situation has meant more urgent steps are necessary, and they're what we're taking.

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