Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the few minutes available I thought I would raise the plight of persecuted Christians in Pakistan. Earlier today I had the opportunity of meeting with the Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association in my office and then introduced him to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon. Peter Dutton.

The plight of Christians in Pakistan is great. In the register of countries that persecute Christians, Pakistan is at six—equal with countries such as Syria. I think that highlights the plight that they face. Their women are being raped. Their men are being sold into slavery. It is a tragedy that is unfolding and continuing in Pakistan. We as a nation give well over $40 million—I am not sure if it is $47 million or $49 million—worth of foreign aid to Pakistan. I believe we ought to be saying to the Pakistani government: 'If you want to be the beneficiary of this sort of aid then you do need to protect the minorities within your country.'

I have also invited the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon. Peter Dutton, to consider what we can do to assist the Pakistanis who are being persecuted in Pakistan and also those who are living in Thailand, with asylum cards, to rehouse them and to provide a new home for them in Australia. It is a plight that I think everybody in this chamber and this nation should be aware of. It goes right through the spectrum of society—from Christian lawyers right down to Christian brickmakers using kilns, they are being persecuted in the most horrible manner. They deserve our support.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It being 2 pm, we move to questions without notice.