Annette Hurley (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Is the minister aware that a mere 18 per cent of refugee arrivals have accessed the short-term torture and trauma counselling service provided as part of the new integrated humanitarian settlement strategy since the contract began in October 2005? Is the minister also aware that 53.7 per cent of entrants under the previous contract accessed the equivalent service? Does the minister know why refugees and humanitarian entrants are not accessing this essential service upon their arrival in Australia? What specific action is the minister now taking to ensure that this problem is addressed?