Offering visas to people fleeing persecution, genocide and war zones should be at the core of Australia’s humanitarian visa program, and the bare minimum that we expect of the Australian government at this moment. Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the government announced it had issued almost 4,500 visas to Ukrainians by late March. Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated ‘[w]e are prepared to meet the demand. We haven’t set a limit on this’ and that all Ukrainian visa applications were being prioritised. Ukrainian visa holders in Australia and Ukrainians who arrived over coming months were also able to apply for a temporary humanitarian visa (visa class 786). This visa was valid for three years and provided comprehensive access to health, resettlement and welfare services, as well as income support. Australia must create the same humanitarian emergency response for Palestinians too.
Continue reading at https://overland.org.au/2024/08/rejecting-racism-towards-palestinian-visa-applicants/