Fifth-term announcements for Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council
Monday, 24 March 2008
The Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, today announced appointments for a fifth term of the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (RRAC).
The RRAC was established in 1997 as an expert policy group on refugee and humanitarian settlement matters and will continue to provide recommendations to the government on priorities for settlement services.
'The council advises on the appropriateness and adequacy of Australian Government services, priorities in settlement planning and community feedback,' Mr Ferguson said.
In previous terms, the council served as an external reference group to the Review of Settlement Services for Migrants and Humanitarian Entrants, contributing input during the implementation of the review's recommendations, and the Interdepartmental Committee on Humanitarian Settlement, convened in 2006.
Bruce Baird has agreed to chair the council and brings valuable expertise to the position as a former federal and state parliamentarian with an interest in refugee and humanitarian settlement issues.
The council will also be composed of the following members:
Paris Aristotle AM Margaret Piper
Paul Power Carmel Guerra
Mohamad Issa Samia Baho
Jenny Semple Kevin Liston
Daniel Zingifuaboro
'All members bring a wide range of experiences to the council, either as former refugees themselves or by working directly with refugees and migrants during the settlement period,' the parliamentary secretary said.
Mr Ferguson acknowledged the return of four former members to the council and extends a special welcome to new members Bruce Baird (chair), Paul Power, Daniel Zingifuaboro, Mohammed Issa, Samia Baho and Jenny Semple.
The council's term will run from 19 March 2008 until 30 June 2010.
Media contact: Khaldoun Hajaj - 0404 078 692
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2008/lf08019.htm
Last update: 13 August 2008 at 17:14 AEST