Mixed emotions follow Labor’s move to allow 19,000 refugees ‘permanent visa pathway’

A senior Labor minister has rejected suggestions the government’s pledge to allow certain refugees a pathway to permanent residency will encourage people smugglers to send migrants by boat to Australia. 

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek told Seven’s Sunrise program on Monday morning the government would continue to support offshore processing and turn back refugee boats headed for Australia. 

Her comments came after the immigration minister announced the government would follow through on an election commitment to allow holders of temporary protection and safe haven enterprise visas to apply for permanent visas instead. 

“We promised before the election they would be on a pathway to permanency, and we are keeping that promise,” Plibersek said. 

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who appeared on the same program, claimed the move would encourage more boat arrivals. 

“When the boats turn up, the Labor Party and [Prime Minister Anthony] Albanese is the person you have to blame,” he said. 

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said in a statement earlier on Monday all people holding temporary protection visas (TPV) and safe haven enterprise visas (SHEV) were refugees entitled to protection by Australia.

“There are thousands of TPV and SHEV holders in the community that have endured 10 years of uncertainty due to the policies of the previous Liberal government,” Giles said in the statement. 

The “permanent visa pathway” will be available to people who entered Australia prior to the commencement of what’s known as Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013. 

It’s understood more than 19,000 people will have an opportunity to apply. 

Temporary protection visas were one of the three pillars of the former Coalition government’s border policy, the other ones being turning back boats and offshore processing. 

Refugee Advice and Casework Service director Sarah Dale told Crikey the reaction to the announcement — including a headline in The Australian claiming the country should “‘Brace’ for new wave of boats” — was aimed at stoking fear. 

“People seek safety in Australia because they fear harm,” she said.

“I think that what we’re seeing in the media is just a perpetuation of fear, which Australians around the country have stood against. Australians have overwhelmingly called for permanency for people in this situation, because they no longer subscribe to those fears.”

She said her phone had been ringing non-stop since the announcement.

“There is a sense of overwhelming joy and relief for this community,” she said.

“But the work is not over. People have been separated from their families now for more than 10 years.”

Do you welcome moves to make it easier for refugees to gain permanent residency? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.