Ministerial Statement

Afghanistan

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:33): I rise to make a statement, on indulgence, on the conflict in Afghanistan. I rise today to speak about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Many have watched in horror the images of despair and desperation coming out of Kabul and right across Afghanistan. I know fears remain for those in that country, especially the women and children. This is truly a heartbreaking and distressing situation. It goes without saying that the current situation is having a profound impact on the 8,000-strong Afghani community here in South Australia.

Last week, I met with a number of Afghan community leaders to give my assurance that the government stands shoulder to shoulder with them and is ready to offer all possible assistance. There will be ongoing conversations with community leaders in the weeks ahead as we get more clarity on what is currently a dynamic and volatile situation. In the meantime, I want to commend the Afghan community for coming together to raise awareness of the conflict and funds for the response. To see so many South Australians attend the vigil on Saturday night was truly moving.

As we watch events unfold, it is essential to remember that throughout Australia's 20-year mission in Afghanistan members of our Australian Defence Force made an immeasurable difference to the lives of the Afghan people. Anyone who has not served or lost a loved one in the line of service cannot imagine the pain and grief being felt across the veterans community at the moment. These bonds forged through military service are unbreakable and I urge you all to lean on each other for support at this very difficult time.

Australia's mission in Afghanistan will forever be part of the tapestry that makes up Australia's military history. My message to our veterans is this: you fought with distinction and honour for a worthy cause. Be proud of your service and of what you have achieved and the difference that you have made. Thank you for your service.

Finally, the government is working with the federal government and monitoring the situation in Afghanistan closely, while every effort is being made to evacuate Australians and Afghan visa holders. South Australia will likely receive repatriation flights, and our government stands ready to support the federal government's humanitarian program for the safe settlement of any Afghan refugees here in South Australia.

During this heartbreaking time, I call on all South Australians to show compassion, reach out with their hearts and support those in our community who have been impacted by this conflict. I know that we all hope that peace will again be on Afghanistan.

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): I thank the Premier and the parliament for the opportunity to address this matter on indulgence. Like most of us in the chamber, I was born here. My parents were born here. I think people in our incredibly privileged position on an almost daily basis take for granted that we truly do live in probably the most special country anywhere in the world. We take for granted our liberty and that we live in a civil society with the rule of law and democratic values almost universally shared.

My grandparents were not born here. They were born overseas, in Hungary and Lithuania, and they came to Australia in 1948 and 1949 as displaced people. We would call them refugees today: they came by boat. Throughout every moment I can recall of my childhood, almost without fail both those grandparents would remind me just how lucky I was, that I was incredibly privileged to live in Australia and that I should never take it for granted. Inevitably, as we get into our day-to-day lives and routine, we do take it for granted. We do not reflect enough on just how lucky we are.

I can tell you what, over the course of the last week, with the events that have been unfolding in Afghanistan, when all of us have been witnessing that human tragedy unfold, live in technicolour before our eyes, it is impossible not to appreciate just how lucky we are. I can think of a few interactions that I have had over the course of the last week that particularly remind me of that.

I was lucky enough to go to the Fatima Zahra Mosque last Wednesday evening. I was invited by the Afghan community to go along, and I was there with a number of my colleagues—and it was absolutely packed. As soon as we rolled up to the car park, it was hard not to be overwhelmed by the collective sense of anxiety permeating amongst that community throughout the event. After a relatively informal ceremony, I hung around and community leaders were bringing individuals to share their stories with me and it was gut wrenching.

I was speaking to a middle-aged mother of children she has been separated from; I was speaking to a sister of a brother who had helped Australian forces, who she had not heard from for days; and I was speaking to another father, recalling stories he had heard of family members back home, his female family members who were shaving their heads in the desperate hope that the Taliban would not recognise them as being female.

On Saturday night, the Premier and I were able to attend the vigil in Victoria Square, and we were both inundated with people wanting to share their stories about the tragedy that was unfolding back home and desperately pleading for something to be done to be able to bring family members out to Australia. While it is true that many of the decisions that relate to those people's future freedom are not necessarily a function of this house, it is our collective responsibility to put pressure on those decision-makers in Canberra who can aid those people's cause.

There are 4,200 people in Australia right now who have been deemed to be legitimate refugees who are stuck on temporary protection visas—some of them for five, six, seven years—who have hanging over their heads a permanent threat of being sent back to Afghanistan. I welcome the remarks of the Prime Minister. I welcome the remarks of the Prime Minister and the foreign minister that no-one will be sent back at this time.

But those people deserve more than just a reassurance about what is occurring at this time. Those people deserve a permanent path to residency and ultimately Australian citizenship. Why? Because that is Australia at its best—welcoming other people from other parts of the world with an open heart and a compassion that we want to provide people hope in their moment of peril, that there are other parts of the world that hold those ideals of freedom and democracy more than just words on a piece of paper but things we are willing to share. We did it after Tiananmen Square, we did it after Vietnam, we did it after World War II and we can do it again.

I take this opportunity to advocate yet again that those people who are already here—already deemed to be safe and appropriately residing in Australia—get permanent residency and citizenship. I join the Premier in his calls for doing everything we reasonably can for other members of the Afghan community, particularly those who would love to see family members enjoy this country and truly be able to call it home.