Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Many people in my electorate have contacted me to express their dismay at the length of time it takes to sponsor a parent to migrate to Australia. I know when you visited Moreton during the election campaign, Attorney-General, you met some of these people. Moreton is obviously a very multicultural community, where one in three voters come from overseas. Obviously family is important around the world, as it is in Australia. They are very concerned about the length of time it takes. One such family in Moreton who contacted me recently has been waiting more than 10 years for their mother—now aged 75—to be able to migrate from China to Moreton. As the only family member remaining in China, the family was understandably concerned for their mother’s health, safety and wellbeing, especially as a 75-year-old. Unfortunately, although this family is working hard it is just not in a position to pay the $31,000 required for the contributory parent visa, which would fast-track their mother’s departure from China. However, despite applying more than 10 years ago, I have been advised that this family will need to wait a further four years before the parent visa is approved. This is not an isolated case. I could list many other people. I could give names of people who have contacted my office since the election, many of  whom saw the former member and have trotted out the same desperate case, but obviously their desperation has increased over that time.

There are many other cases: people from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Taiwan, China and Sudan, to name just some of the major groups in Moreton. As I said, I represent an electorate where more than one in three voters was born overseas. I have spoken to many of these constituents in the same situation, eager to be reunited with their families. Can the Attorney-General outline any improvement included in this budget for parent migration?

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