Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2) 54 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Matters of Interest Afghan Community Afghan Community The Hon. J.A. DARLEY Legislative Council The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:40): Prospect Road at Kilburn and Blair Athol these days is a very different community from only a decade ago. Shopfronts were boarded up and graffiti and other forms of vandalism and petty crime were evident, but now a thriving business district exists, full of life and smells of restaurant food, with people going about their daily lives with security and hope. The area is affectionately known as 'Little Kabul'. This transformation has happened through the hard work and enterprise of our Afghan community and other migrant groups. In recent days, the Afghan community would have been reminded of their past hardships and trauma in their homeland. They are all heartbroken and worried for their family members caught up in the terror of the Taliban. My office provided support to the South Australian Afghan community by offering letters of support, general advice about the visa application process and much-needed emotional support. This kind of support offers hope at this dark time. More can be done in support to make a substantial and lasting difference. In the days after Tiananmen Square, Prime Minister Bob Hawke gave his passionate speech and made the great human gesture of offering more than 42,000 visas to Chinese students studying in Australia. The same leadership should be shown today, granting permanent resident status to some 4,200 Afghan temporary visa holders. Our Afghan South Australians understand their only hope to bring their loved ones to safety is to apply for a visa. This is a long, complicated and emotionally taxing process for those already distressed. Mr Mohammed Zahir, Afghan community member, leader and former Australian Defence Force interpreter of six years, has encouraged South Australians to do all that they can to support the Afghan community. In Mr Zahir's words: We have dedicated our lives for the Australian people, left behind our families, our parents, our brothers, our sisters, our homes. We now need the support of the government and the Australian people to bring all of our family members here safely. Our community needs help with the visa application process and we need emotional support during this time. NGOs have played a key role in assisting individuals with the visa application process and must be commended for their hard work on behalf of all of us The Afghan United Association of South Australia was pleased that the government had an early meeting with them. However, I was disappointed that funding for the Afghan community services hub was provided late last week, some three weeks after Taliban forces took control of Kabul. It should have been offered earlier when the need was evident. Through this hub funding, the Australian Migrant Resource Centre received late funding for their important work, but other NGOs have worked tirelessly, assisting hundreds of visa applicants, and not received additional funding. The Australian Refugee Association has offered free information sessions to the Afghan community, taking considerable time and resources. This wonderful support by the ARA recognises the importance of supporting the community's collective mental wellbeing. Many have contacted my office and have had sleepless nights and days off work, sick with worry, and gone days without eating or drinking. Many have experienced great feelings of guilt, grief, sorrow and despair for the terror their family members are facing. Many just need someone to listen, understand and acknowledge the pain they are experiencing. The government has depended on the NGOs but should ask what more it should do to support our Afghan community at this time.