Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

Almost 20 years ago, Australia was one of the first nations to join the US-led intervention in Afghanistan that removed the Taliban. My community and others around Australia are deeply concerned about the plight of the Afghan people and the recent exodus of refugees following the coalition withdrawal and subsequent Taliban takeover, particularly about those who helped Australian forces to gain intelligence as interpreters. Last week, I hosted an event in McLaren Vale, where we heard from Kon and Jana from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Kate and Fida from Welcoming Australia. My constituents want to know how they can help.

One practical response is for this government to increase our refugee intake. A petition led by Change.org and the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network was signed by over 160,000 Australians and is calling on the government to help at-risk groups. To ease the suffering of the people in Afghanistan, urgent action is required. I now table this petition.

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