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

[by video link] I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question and I thank her for the acknowledgement of those ministers who have been engaging with Greens senators in relation to assisting with the extraction of individuals from Afghanistan. Indeed, can I thank many members of the Senate and across the parliament for engagement with local constituencies on those matters and particularly, whilst I know ministers are working hard on it, I thank those many officials working around the clock to do so, especially the officials from various agencies who have been redeployed either to the United Arab Emirates or to Afghanistan to help in these dangerous and challenging circumstances.

Senator Hanson-Young, indeed the government does recognise the humanitarian challenges that exist in relation to what is occurring in Afghanistan. It is why we've made the swift announcement in relation to there being 3,000 places this financial year, in this current financial year's humanitarian intake, to be dedicated to ensuring that Afghani citizens are offered permanent protection in Australia. Since 1 July 2013 more than 8½ thousand visas have been granted to Afghani citizens under Australia's humanitarian visa program. We remain committed to working carefully to give priority to persecuted minorities, to women and children and to those who have links to Australia, such as family members. We'll work as always through the processes to ensure that applicants satisfy public interest criteria for character, security and health, making sure that we do keep the safety and security of Australians as being of paramount importance. Importantly, we'll work with Afghan community leaders in Australia through this process. We'll also work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help to identify those most in need.