Chris Hayes (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government's decision to permanently axe the non-contributory parent visa category from June this year will severely impact on my local community. I represent a vibrant, multicultural community with over 150 nationalities. Like the rest of us, these communities place great emphasis on family. Many people in my electorate are refugees coming from war-torn countries, having to wait patiently to be reunited with parents, relatives, partners and children to rebuild their lives. Abolishing the non-contributory parent visa, including parent visas, aged dependent relatives visas, remaining relatives visas, and carers visas, will put enormous stress and pressure on these families, many of whom come from low-socioeconomic and disadvantaged backgrounds.

I understand the importance of family reunion in providing people with invaluable support, particularly for those living with disability or with aged parents. Families in my electorate are not rich. They will be denied this respite as they cannot afford to pay for a contributory visa costing anything up to $125,000. This government is determined to only look after the wealthy. If we are getting to the stage in Australia where you can only migrate here if you can afford to pay the price, then this is not the cohesive, inclusive, multicultural Australia that we need.