PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 16 JUNE 1989
I welcomed the opportunity this morning to meet a delegation of
representatives of Australia's Chinese community and to hear their
views about the problems facing the community, and their relations
and friends in China, as a result of the current tragic situation
there. I used the opportunity provided by this meeting to announce a range
of important new Government initiatives designed to help ameliorate
some of these problems.
The Government has now decided to extend all temporary entry
permits on application for a further 12 months until July 31
1990), for all PRC nationals legally in Australia on June 4 this
year. In order to help them financially the students will be
entitled to work for up to 20 hours per week and will be allowed to
work full time should their courses finish during the 12 month
period. The Government appreciates the financial and other problems which
could face some Chinese nationals in Australia who do not have
access to social security, or Medicare. we are therefore looking
at ways in which these people's needs can be assisted by access to
the " special benefits" program administered by the Minister for
Social Security.
I warmly applaud the fund raising efforts of Australia's Chinese
community. To help further these efforts the Government has now
given in-principle agreement to a $ 100,000 grant to provide
humanitarian assistance in China. That grant is on top of the
$ 200,000 already put aside for use in a possible Red Cross Appeal.
I told the delegation that while visa processing, including of
student applications, is currently suspended, we hope that
processing will be resumed as soon as visa-issuing staff can safely
return to China. Arrangements are being made in the meantime for
abbreviated visa processing for urgent migrant cases involving
immediate family of Australian citizens and permanent residents.
A Cabinet Submission is now being developed as a priority matter,
to deal with all aspects of PRC nationals in Australia ( including
refugee status, grant of residence permit on humanitarian grounds,
family reunion issues and the possibility of refugee resettlement
for some PRC nationals overseas). There is a number of complex
matters that need to be addressed and these require Cabinet's
deliberation. The Government will continue to monitor de~. elopments in China and
their implications for our bilateral relationship carefully, and to
assess the possibility of further appropriate action, particularly
in regard to the human rights situation.