Refugee Week: A Place to Call Home
Sunday, 15 June 2008
People around Australia will join in events through the coming week across the spectrum of the nation’s diversity to mark Refugee Week, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today.
‘Events in every state and territory will celebrate the remarkable journeys of the people who come here as refugees under Australia’s Humanitarian Program,’ Senator Evans said.
‘Every new Australian citizen has a special story, but I think all Australians would agree that the people who arrive here as refugees add particularly vibrant threads to the material that is building our nation.
‘Many humanitarian entrants will become Australian citizens at Refugee Week ceremonies throughout Australia.
‘For these people, Refugee Week carries two meanings – a reminder of their journey to a new life in Australia and the day they embraced Australia as home by becoming citizens of this proud nation.’
Australia consistently ranks among the world’s top three resettlement countries – along with the United States and Canada – in providing comprehensive resettlement programs for refugees and others in humanitarian need.
In last month’s Budget, the Rudd Government increased the Humanitarian Program to 13,500 places in 2008-09. This includes 6500 offshore refugee places, with a one-off increase of 500 places in the coming year to assist people affected by the conflict in Iraq.
From 2009-10 onwards, there will be an increase of 750 places in the Special Humanitarian Program to 7750 places.
‘The offshore component of the 2008-09 Humanitarian Program will focus on refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East,’ Senator Evans said.
Since the end of World War II, Australia has welcomed more than 660 000 refugees and other people in need of humanitarian assistance.
‘Other events around the country will include a candlelight vigil in Brisbane, public lectures in Hobart and Launceston, a national conference on refugee issues in Adelaide and a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees celebration in Canberra,’ the minister said.
‘There will be many other events around the nation on the theme A Place To Call Home as Australia marks Refugee Week from June 15-21 and World Refugee Day on June 20.’
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/media/media-releases/2008/ce08054.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST