“Settlement Support Package welcomed, but Australia should do more to show compassionate leadership” say Afghanistan-Australian community
The Australian Government’s announcement of a settlement support package for people recently evacuated from Afghanistan is welcomed by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network, but shouldn’t stop the Australian Government from doing more to stand for the rights of women, children and vulnerable minorities.
The package states it will provide funding to community organisations supporting the new arrivals, including mental health services and legal services, which will assist people to transition from temporary visas on a pathway to permanency.
Whilst the Network agrees it is promising to see the Australian Government recognising its commitment to the people of Afghanistan, it waits to see the detail to ensure the rights of people going through that process are afforded due rights in this legal process and that there is transparency in the allocation of funds.
The offshore humanitarian visa process currently allows no access for people to appeal decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs, except through appealing on judicial review grounds.
The Australian Government today have also failed to address the critical need for additional humanitarian places, after the Senate inquiry into Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan heard earlier this week that more than 100,000 people have applied for safety in Australia. The Government is still only offering 3,000 places as part of the current, already reduced humanitarian intake, reducing resettlement of refugees from other crises around the globe.
The number of visa grants between 2019 and 2021 has fallen well short of total places offered, due to COVID-related travel restrictions, leaving even more opportunity for the Australian Government to increase humanitarian places.
There was no mention of pathways to permanency for the 5,100 people from Afghanistan who remain on temporary protection visas in Australia, or mention of prioritising family reunion for those with loved ones stuck in Afghanistan.
Quotes
Arif Hussein, Human Rights Lawyer, RACS
“ Whilst this is a step in the right direction, we need to see transparency over how funds will be allocated, and ask for funding to be directed to key services in relevant states, who have expertise and are already providing a service to people from Afghanistan.”
“ There also needs to be clarity over the process of transitioning from temporary visas to permanent. The government must ensure people have adequate rights to appeal and access to the legal systems, which at this stage remains unclear.”
Sanam Ahmadzada, Mental Health Researcher, Refugee Health Consultant
“ We are pleased to see support for mental health included in this package as so many in our community are hurting. This is especially prevalent for people on temporary protection visas who have to reapply every 3-5 years to stay safe.
“To legitimately address the mental health needs of the community the government should also be providing permanent protection to the 5,100 people on temporary protection visas and those on bridging visas, including people in detention. They too cannot go back to Afghanistan.”
Sayed Hussainizada, Human Rights Lawyer
“We are pleased to see the Australian Government starting to take action. But to show true compassionate leadership they must provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian places to people from Afghanistan, permanent protection to people on temporary visas and prioritise family reunion for people with loved ones whose lives remain at risk in Afghanistan.”
“By taking these steps the Australian Government could ensure that some of the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan, including women, human rights defenders and long-persecuted minority groups, were not left to suffer at the hands of the Taliban regime.”
Media Contact Emma Davies - emma.davies@racs.org.au