Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to rise to support the motion put forward by my good friend the member for Berowra, who is was doing a magnificent job in his own electorate and making a fine contribution to the service of the nation. He has put this motion forward because he understands the importance of Australia's migration program as part of the enduring vision of building this country's future.

Australia's postwar immigration program has been a phenomenal success. We continue to be seen as one of the most attractive liberal democracies in the world for people seeking a new way of life, and we are proud to call so many people new Australians. They come here because of the opportunities that this country provides, the seeking of our way of life, the pursuit of our shared values and the promise of a nation underpinned by the principles of an opportunity society. There are many who wish to share and contribute to our success as a nation, and we must do everything we can to encourage and preserve that unique fortune.

For these people to be able to build on the trajectory of this country and be part of its future success, Australians expect the government to adequately equip new citizens with the ability to thrive and prosper in society. We should want new Australians to make sure that they harness that opportunity for their own success as well as the shared success of this country. New citizens and the government have a shared obligation to remove all barriers to full participation in our wider society, and we should encourage new Australians to understand and embrace the values and ethos of our magnificent country. After all, these values make us the envy of the world.

A common language plays a crucial role in uniting a disparate country. It forms the basis of our shared history and our culture and, more importantly, our future together. The success of the Adult Migrant English Program in educating new Australians is a very important part of uniting Australians in that education. The AMEP provides up to 510 hours of English-language tuition to eligible new Australians and humanitarian entrants. It is a pathway to learn the foundations of the English language alongside settlement skills to enable new Australians to participate socially and economically in our society. Through language tuition, the program aims to produce outcomes in relation to social participation, economic wellbeing and the improvement of people's welfare and, more importantly, independence and personal wellbeing. All of these contribute to settlement within and integration into the Australian broader community. The program also assists new Australians to find pathways to employment.

A recent evaluation found that overall the AMEP is a valuable program that is 'providing substantial assistance to eligible adult migrants and humanitarian entrants'. It offers 'a strong focal point for drawing together a range of humanitarian and other related settlement services'. The work experience component of the AMEP has a higher rate of participation than similar programs, including the Skills for Education and Employment program.

The government, rightly, is actively supporting the continued success of AMEP by revising the business model as part of last year's budget. Some key features of the new business model include providing access to a capped program of 490 hours of additional tuition for clients who have not reached functional English after completing their entitled 510 hours; removing the funding cap applied to the AMEP subprogram, the Special Preparatory Program, allowing entrants to access additional training; and expanding choice and increasing flexibility and innovation in service delivery by allowing providers to choose a curriculum that best meets their clients' needs.

We know that the program has a significant impact on people's lives. A 2011 survey found that more than 50 per cent of participants were well on their way to achieving economic independence by indicating that they would likely buy a house in the next five years. More than one quarter of both migrants and refugees, those seeking a life as new Australians, aspired to start up their own business within the next five years, something that should be utterly celebrated and congratulated, I would hope in a bipartisan way, by everybody in this chamber. A third of participants were actively involved in local community groups, a religious organisation, a community group, a sporting club or a parenting group. Those groups provide the knitting of the social fabric that binds our community together. And 61 per cent of those with children said that their child participated in activities outside school, most commonly in sporting groups.

We acknowledge the fantastic work that AMEP providers deliver to our newest Australians. I wish all 59,000 recent participants in the program the very best going forward.

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