Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

In making my contribution to the address-in-reply, I want to start by thanking the voters of the Scullin electorate for putting their trust in me for the fourth time. It's a very humbling privilege, and I thank those who did support me. But I acknowledge that many did not. Indeed, there were more who did not at the last election than at the election before it, and that's something I have been reflecting on. I commit myself here, as I go about my work as the member for Scullin, to earn the trust, if not always the support, of all the people I have the privilege of representing. I think that's an important point right now at this juncture in democratic politics, where we know that the trust in politics and political institutions is much lower than it has been, much lower than it should be and much lower than in needs to be. I am very conscious that, for all of us who come to this place, we bring our values, our sense of how the world should be and our sense of the role of government. But for us to be able to play out these debates about how our politics should be, this must rest on an understanding and appreciation across the community that the work we do in this place matters and that it can improve the lives of our constituents and people around the country.

Rebuilding a sense of trust and confidence in this institution, this parliament, is absolutely vital, and I hope that over the course of this term in parliament I can do more to engage with the full diversity of the people who I represent in the Scullin electorate. I also hope that we make a contribution as we go about our work in this place—and I acknowledge the shadow minister, who has just come into the Federation Chamber—to see if we can do better, not always at striving for bipartisanship, because I think that's a false hope, but in working out how we can play out our differences in a more respectful manner, recognising that there are many issues upon which people will disagree by reason of their background or their world view. But I think we need to find a way to better engage all of our communities. That's in the sense—and I strongly believe this to be the case—that what happens in this place is the work of a diverse group of people of goodwill who come to this place with a firm desire to do the best for their communities and to see the best done for the country.

We haven't always conducted ourselves—and I include myself in this criticism—in a way that builds that trust and confidence upon which a strong democracy should rest. I will do my best and, again, I know the shadow minister will hold me to account in this respect as well as in other respects, as he should, to see if I can make a contribution to raising the standard of political debate and dealing with, I think, the greatest threat to our democracy, which is an increasing sense of cynicism towards what we do and alienation from politics and political institutions more broadly.

I do think, in making these reflections, that we can't divorce this sense of grievance and cynicism from how the experience of the pandemic affected so many in our communities. That's something that I have reflected on, as I've also reflected on the particular challenges of being a representative through that difficult time. I want to acknowledge the former Speaker of the House Tony Smith and the former President of the Senate for the work that they did in ensuring that our parliament continued to function. I believe it functioned well through a period of great disruption. I think it was important that our constituents saw us continuing our representative work through that period, and some very important work was done.

I also want to acknowledge the work of the group of people I'm very fortunate to have worked with in my electorate office during that time—indeed, always. I want to acknowledge Lori, Sally, Nick, Alice, Zoe, Eric and Olla, as well as Jim Tilkeridis, who has recently retired. I want to put on record in this place Jim's extraordinary record of service working with me and serving the community, including as Mayor of the City of Whittlesea. He's a dear friend, a source of wise counsel and someone who has made an extraordinary contribution—a contribution that continues, I add. But the work of all of our electorate officers was incredibly important through the challenges of the pandemic. In those early stages, so many people sought to engage with Centrelink, often for the first time in their lives. In a country like ours, a majority migrant nation, the closure of the borders had such an extraordinary impact, with people trapped.

I was so proud of my team's work, in getting people connected to relatives stuck overseas, making such a difference to so many, as well as the work of my team more broadly. I think all of us, in this place, know that we are nothing but for the people we have the privilege of working with. During the period of the pandemic that was particularly so. I'm so pleased at the work the team I work with did, during that time, and that work continues. Some are in new roles, and I want to acknowledge the contributions in my team, right now, from Sam, Hamish, Khadija and Maureen who've joined us in the electorate office.

The electorate office of a minister for immigration has some unusual pressures applied to it, from time to time, both on the phone and occasionally on the street out the front. Again, I want to acknowledge that my staff and, indeed, the staff of all us members of parliament, often have to put up with a lot by reason of our actions or inactions. I'm very conscious of some of the pressures put on them as they go about doing really extraordinary work supporting the communities that make up the Scullin electorate. Right now, the devastation in Turkiye and Syria particularly affects thousands of people I represent. I want to recognise in this place the pressures and stresses I'm seeing in the community, and I look forward to engaging more directly on these things when I'm back in Melbourne next week.

I want also to touch on, in these remarks, the last election itself. I've already thanked the people of Scullin for their continuing support and acknowledged those who did not support me. But there are a couple of dynamics from that election that I saw again in the recent Victorian state election that I found concerning. I made some remarks earlier about my concern, to see our disagreements and disputes in this place play out in a different manner, because I do see a change in the tenor of politics on the ground. I was particularly concerned to see that in the recent state election. I saw some very disturbing behaviours, particularly at early voting centres and particularly directed at female members of parliament and candidates.

Across the political spectrum, I think we are seeing some concerning signs in our political life. We really do need to create political conversations in the community as well as in this place that are respectful and, fundamentally, that are safe. We need to remove any sense of apprehension or disincentive that might deny people from thinking about taking on a role in public life. I am concerned that the tenor of our debate and some of the behaviours we have seen do have that chilling effect on an important aspect of our democracy. That is something I would like to see reflected as we all go about our work.

I was very pleased, as I went through that election campaign, which now seems quite some time ago, to see a number of significant commitments made, in opposition, that will be delivered as part of the work of the Albanese Labor government. I want to touch on two, in particular. One is the funding commitment to the Peter Hopper Lake in Mill Park, a really significant investment in a beautiful part of the electorate that had needed help. The place had been such a focus for community members but had been so degraded. I'm really looking forward to working with the community and the council to see this beautiful lake restored to its pristine state so that it can be enjoyed by early morning walkers and families enjoying the playground and the off-leash dog park next door.

I'm also really pleased that something that I've been fighting for, for a long time, moves a step closer, with the commitment of funding for a feasibility study for rail or public transport out to the growing communities on the north-western side of the Scullin electorate, going into the McEwen electorate. They are vibrant and diverse places but access to the amenity that many Melburnians appreciate as well as access to work, particularly in the CBD, is being held back by the lack of public transport opportunities there.

We see everywhere in suburban communities the cost of congestion to people's lives. It is important that everyone has the ability to access everything that is good in Melbourne—the ability to access a wider range of employment opportunities, as well as all the other great things that make Melbourne undoubtedly the greatest city in our country. I'm very pleased to see that commitment. I look forward to ensuring that, along with very significant road investments, we're going to make it easier for people to get around the northern suburbs and also to get around our city more broadly—particularly with expanding public transport access. I see the enormous difference that the extension of the train line to Mernda has made on the other side of my electorate. To see that play out on the other side, particularly as the Epping precinct expands with the developments around the hospital, is something that I really want to work towards making a reality soon.

At a broader level, I'm conscious that there is much work to do, particularly on addressing two big issues. The cost of living that's impacting on everyone is a critical challenge for all of us in this place. The first act of this government was of course to support an increase in the minimum wage. There is more to be done in that regard, and it will be a relentless focus for me—as a local member, as well as being a member of the government—to work with our economic team and Minister Burke, in his industrial relations responsibilities, to see more done in this regard. The other critical question—and it's a common one—is access to primary health care. That's something that I'll continue to work towards with our community and with our excellent health team.

I was very privileged to have been given the opportunity by the Prime Minister to serve as the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs shortly after the election. It's an extraordinary honour to have these responsibilities, which impact the lives of every Australian and give me an opportunity to play a part, not just in shaping our recovery from the pandemic and that period of border closure but to play a significant role in thinking about the nation that we are and the nation that we might be. In terms of multicultural affairs, I'm extraordinarily proud of the achievements that we have made, and I recognise the bipartisan commitment to multiculturalism that has played such a role in boosting social cohesion and making this country—this modern nation—so great, with our unique blend of the world's oldest continuing cultures and people bringing and sharing their cultures from all around the world.

But when I say this, I am not and I will not overlook the barriers that many Australians face by reason of their background; discrimination still occurs, holds individuals back and holds us all back by denying people the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Ending these barriers is a critical part of my role and, I believe, a critical responsibility of national government. I think a vision of our country as a place where everyone belongs in every place, where we see people represented in proportion in all the places that matter, including in this place, is an important part of realising our potential as a country. Recognising that there are still barriers that hold back too many Australians from fulfilling their potential is something that, morally, we need to attend to as an equal and egalitarian society. But it's also about taking that next step to recognise that this denial of individual equality and capacity is not just a problem for them but a problem for all of us. I want to recognise that.

I want to speak very briefly about one of the critical questions that this government has put before the Australian people, and that is my commitment to all aspects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart—in particular, my strong support for constitutional recognition and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. This is something that matters to many in the community I represent, and I will be working with them to secure strong support for this generous gesture that First Nations people have made and to remind people that, whilst the Albanese government is resolute in its support for the Voice, this is not an idea of the Albanese government; this is the product of a process of engaging so many First Nations people for so long. That is a point which often gets lost in what passes for the debate here, but it's something that I'm very conscious of. What we are doing, in asking Australians to support the Voice, is simply to say yes to an offer extended to non-Indigenous Australians by First Nations people. It's a simple, generous request, and it's a request that we must answer in the affirmative, if we are to fulfil our potential as a nation.

I stand here in this parliament because of the support of the voters of the Scullin electorate, but, of course, I only stand here because many worked hard to make Labor's victory in Scullin a reality. I want to acknowledge some of those people who made a real contribution to my campaign and to acknowledge the debt I owe to each of them.

I think about: Helen Said; Paul, Bruce and Carla Seidl; Rana Javeed; Jim Kerin and everyone from the Men's Shed at Lalor; Tom Watkins; David Cannavo;    Kris Pavlidis, who's given so much to the community for so long, as has my friend Sucettin Unal and all of his family; Connie Boglis; Brian and Ellen Smiddy; Jim Bannon; Vince O'Grady; Anthony Mancuso; Samil Demir; Sonay Dilekcan; Ray Yollie Rosales; Nessie Sayer; Judy Snell; Nora Rocca; Yogi Thurinathan; Yammi El Rassi; Pam Macleod; Maureen Corrigan; Joe Caruso; Stephanie Santos; Sam Alessi, again, a giant of the community; Regina Huning, a person who's done so much and has been going through very difficult challenges in her family—I'm thinking about her and Emily, as I stand here now—Eugenia Pavlopoulou; John Fry; and Joe Petrucci. I stand here because of all your work and your support, and I'm always grateful for both.

I recognise that, as well as the fantastic team in the electorate. Just so it's on the record, I'll go through them: Lori, Sally, Nik, Alice, Zoe, Eric, Olla and Sasha, who worked for me in the last term. And there's Lachlan, who also worked with me in my portfolio responsibilities.

I said, a few minutes ago, that I was proud and feel privileged to be Australia's Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. I am pleased at the role that I've been able to play, with all of my colleagues, in making a difference for the lives of Australians who rely on a migration system that works in our national interest and in the interests of every Australian. I'm pleased that we've been able to get the visa backlog down. I'm thrilled that more staff are engaged—more than 485 in visa processing roles since May of last year. I'm pleased that we've managed to process and finalise more than 4.7 million visa applications and that we've been able to prioritise skilled visas in critical sectors, like health and education, to fill those critical shortages that have been impacting the lives of too many Australians.

As someone who's long been concerned about people seeking asylum, I note, now, that we've filled almost 9,000 visas as part of the humanitarian program, and that, in particular, more than 4,250 permanent humanitarian citizens have been granted to Afghan citizens in this program year, as well as more than 1,300 family visas. There is, of course, more to be done supporting them, and I think we all acknowledge in this place our particular moral obligation to the people of Afghanistan. There's work that's being done, and I acknowledge the former government for their support for Ukrainians who have sought our protection as well. I'm pleased that we're seeing the first arrivals through the community sponsorship pilot. Again, that's an initiative the former government began, but it's one that I believe we can make a big feature of our migration program, as we harness the generosity that's found in communities right across Australia.

I'm thrilled that we're bringing down the citizenship backlog. I can't say how pleased I am that people who've been in this country for a decade and who've been found to be owed our protection can now move their circumstances beyond simply existing and towards living and making the choices that each of us take for granted. That decision, announced on Monday, was one of the proudest days of my life, and I'm pleased that I have the opportunity to continue to build on this body of work.

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