Tasmania’s Door is Open

The Syrian refugee crisis has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, with the largest mass dislocation of people seen in over 70 years.

The United Nations has reported there are over four million registered Syrian refugees, with women and children, most with little more than the clothes on their backs, making up three quarters of them.

Tasmania stands ready to open our hearts, and our doors to the victims of this appalling tragedy.

I have previously confirmed with the Prime Minister and Federal Government Tasmania’s willingness to welcome additional refugees to live and work in our state, and become part of the Tasmanian community.

Tasmania is a warm and welcoming community, so it comes as no surprise that we have received many offers of support.

A total of 12,000 humanitarian visas will be made available to those who have been displaced by conflicts in Syria and Iraq – and those entrants will be fully supported in Australia by the Federal Government with $700 million allocated over four years.

The Australian Government will work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to resettle the 12,000 refugees as quickly as possible.

Candidates for resettlement in Australia will be required to meet all criteria for a humanitarian visa, including health, character and security checks, and those checks must be completed before individuals are able to enter Australia.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has long-established processes, staff and bases in the region, and additional staff are being mobilised to begin the task of processing visa applications.

Concurrently, I am advised the Federal Government will begin work with state and Territories and community organisations on resettlement. We are now working with the Federal Government to advance resettlement to Tasmania as quickly as possible.

Last week, the Tasmanian Government confirmed that Tasmania will also accept and support up to an additional 500 refugees and asylum seekers to settle in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Government’s response is in addition to our usual annual intake of humanitarian entrants of around 500.

So for a small state, we are doubling our response. It is also significantly more than our per capita share of the additional 12,000 refugees, which would be around 300.
We are working with the community sector to welcome and accommodate the additional intake.

CatholicCare and the Migrant Resource Centre (Northern Tasmania) provide refugee settlement services, and both advise they are able to provide settlement services for double the current intake.

Tomorrow, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be holding its first workshop with key providers and community organisations involved in supporting refugees and asylum seekers, to further develop our planning.

We will also progress our proposal for the Commonwealth to make Tasmania a regional zone for Safe Haven Enterprise Visas applicants, to provide temporary five year visas. Tasmania is only the second state to reach agreement with the Commonwealth, along with the Liberal Government in New South Wales.

Those on bridging visas already living in the Australian community can convert to a SHEV as long as they are assessed as meeting Australia’s protection obligations and indicate a willingness to live and work or study in regional Australia.

SHEV holders are also required to limit use of social security benefits to less than 18 months during the five year visa, in order to be eligible to apply for a permanent visa under the family or skilled migration stream.

It is impossible to determine how many of those who convert to a SHEV will wish to relocate to Tasmania under this program. But again, what we can do is be ready with the support we know will be needed.

To this end, last week the Tasmanian Government announced funding of $1.2 million over four years to establish a Safe Haven Hub, to operate as a first point of contact for SHEV holders coming to Tasmania to live and work or study.

The intention is the hub will provide support to both migrants and potential employers, and connect both. The Tasmanian Government will also provide pathways to employment, interpreter support and additional settlement services.

We believe migrant populations are a key asset for our state. They strengthen our communities and help build a socially inclusive society. They bring knowledge, skills and contacts, and often bring a strong work ethic and experience to make a major contribution to Tasmanian life as a whole.

Tasmania has a long history of a compassionate response to world crises, and a welcoming response to migrants.

I am gratified that once again Tasmanians have shown they are compassionate and welcoming, in their receptive response to our plan to double our humanitarian response.

I would like to thank the Tasmanian community sector for their immediate preparedness to come together with the Government to respond quickly to this humanitarian crisis.
Will Hodgman, Premier