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

Last Wednesday, with volunteer assistance from Willunga Circle of Friends, many in my community spent the afternoon listening to CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis and director of advocacy and campaigns Jana Favero from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. They provided us with an update with respect to refugee issues in Australia, including: the plight of those in Afghanistan; those who have sought protection visas; the uncertain future for those on Manus; and the challenges faced by those here in community detention with little or no safety during the COVID lockdowns and no ability for their children to study post-year 12, as they are charged international rates. This year the government reduced our humanitarian intake from 18,750 to 13,750, and I understand the 3,000 Afghans that we have agreed to take are part of that threshold.

We also heard, from Kate Leaney and Fida from the Welcoming Centre, powerful, personal, local stories and a call to action on how we can all help. I would urge the government to consider a refugee sponsorship program where families and communities could sponsor a refugee family seeking safety. We can do this better. Australia is a nation with a big heart because, just as our national anthem says, for those who have come across the sea we've boundless plains to share.