Senate debates

Thursday, 26 August 2021

Questions without Notice

Afghanistan

2:10 pm

Photo of Marise PayneMarise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government notes the Taliban has made undertakings about foreign nationals seeking to leave Afghanistan. We continue to seek that they observe those undertakings, including to uphold human rights and to allow our citizens and Australian visa holders to depart safely if they wish to do so.

For Australians who remain in Afghanistan: please register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade if you have not done so already. The Department of Home Affairs will proactively contact those who have been granted temporary safe haven (subclass 449) visas but remain in Afghanistan, with advice about what they should do when it is safe. We will continue to process visa applications from Afghans seeking protection. The government will work with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Afghan community leaders in Australia and leading refugee advocates and service providers to welcome people from Afghanistan.

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