Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will oppose this motion, because we see through Senator Bernardi's petty political games. Labor supports Australia's non-discriminatory migration program, which has been in place for decades. If people are facing persecution, regardless of where they are from or the colour of their skin, they are able to apply to Australia's humanitarian visa program and that application process will be assessed on its merits. Australia's protection obligations are clear and are set out in the Migration Act. Regrettably, the Minister for Home Affairs clearly feels differently. On 14 March 2018, the minister was asked specifically about South African farmers. He responded:

… I think these people deserve special attention and we're certainly applying that special attention now.

The minister clearly was calling for special attention—a different set of standards that would undermine Australia's non-discriminatory migration program. At Senate estimates, the minister's claims of special attention were defied by this own department, which said they were applying no additional requirements.