$400,000 to help Queensland’s Afghani families

The Palaszczuk Government has stepped up to provide vital support to the Afghan community amid the current humanitarian crisis.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman today pledged $400,000 to assist Queensland’s Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) to support its Afghanistan immigration legal clinic.

“I’m sure everyone in our community felt great empathy for the large number of people affected by the enormous upheaval and unrest caused by the recent political events in Kabul and Afghanistan in general,” Minister Fentiman said.

“While Afghanistan might be on the other side of the world, the shockwaves still reached our shores and the current crisis has led to the largest demand on RAILS resources in history.

“In the first two weeks following the fall of Kabul, RAILS received 650 requests for assistance from members of Queensland’s Afghan community.

“The $400,000 funding will help RAILS continue its vital work and support for our Afghan community.

“As a result of this funding, RAILS will be able to continue to provide crucial advice and support for Australian citizens and visa holders in Afghanistan as well as support for evacuees in hotel quarantine and those with family members in Afghanistan who are at grave risk of harm from the Taliban.”

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard said RAILS is the only specialist immigration and refugee community legal centre in Queensland.

“There are around 8,000 people born in Afghanistan or with Afghani heritage living in Queensland and RAILS anticipates the demand for its services will continue to increase,” Minister Linard said.

“Queenslanders have a well-earned reputation for helping people in need. This funding will have a significant impact on people’s lives by reuniting families and providing certainty about their future safety.”

The Attorney-General met with the RAILS Acting Executive Director Kylie McGrath to discuss the tremendous work that her organisation undertakes as well as the complex challenges facing the local Afghan community.

“The issues are vast – there are relatives in Afghanistan requiring visa assistance or outcomes; there are family members at grave risk of harm; we have evacuees in quarantine needing support now and in the future; and there is a big demand for interpreter services,” she said.

For more information about RAILS, and support offered to the Afghan community in particular, please click here: https://www.rails.org.au/education/legal-info

ENDS

Media contact:                       Inga Williams              0439 949 719