Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Troeth for her question. What has happened is that one of the Queensland government ministers has accused my department of denying a Queensland doctor a permanent visa because his son does not meet the health requirements. It is quite an emotive issue. Senator Wong and others always like to attach themselves to those, and this matter was raised. Senators might like to know that the Queensland government has to date rejected a proposal by my department to allow a health waiver on those sorts of visas, which would allow the doctor to stay.

My department has been consulting with the states and territories on introducing a health waiver for some skilled visas. Without the waiver, the department’s hands are tied. The Queensland government stand out as the only government that have thus far said to us that they do not want the waiver at this point because they do not want to treat the people who have health needs as their cost, not as a normal permanent resident or an Australian citizen. No, they want the Australian government to pay, and if we do not, they do not want them. (Time expired)