Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the migrant communities of Kingsford Smith, I implore the government to reverse this lousy decision to repeal a number of parent visas. In particular, the non-contributory parent visa, the aged dependent relative visa and the carers visa.

This decision shows the Liberal and National parties' complete disdain and contempt for Australian multiculturalism and migrant communities. The effect of this reform is to put family reunion out of the reach of many Australian migrants by forcing them to pay the up-front fee, which is currently around $125,000, to bring your parents or family members to Australia.

Most migrants in Australia simply cannot afford that fee, particularly many in my community. There was no mention of this policy prior to the election. Again, it is another broken election commitment from a lousy government. It was not even debated in this parliament.

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