Mr MITCHELL - 1999-10-12
Can he update members on the current status of Tent City out at the Kalymnian Brotherhood’s grounds at Karama?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can advise the House that, since the safe haven facility popularly referred to as ‘Tent City’ in Darwin was constructed, we have processed 1814 East Timorese since the first evacuation from Timor. The largest group at the Kalymnian reception centre at any one time was about 1500 people. The last group of about 120 departed at the weekend and at this stage the camp will begin to be dismantled.
I made that decision last evening after discussions with the Minister for Immigration, Phil Ruddock, who advised me that, following advice to him from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, agreement has been made for outstanding people at risk to be moved from other areas of Indonesia and West Timor direct into East Timor. That is the plan that is in place. That is the plan that is intended to be programmed from this point onwards. Therefore, the need for this facility to remain in place seems unnecessary.
Having said that, we remain prepared with contingency plans to reconstruct that facility if a need arises at very short notice.
I take the opportunity while I am on my feet - and certainly when I make a ministerial statement on East Timor I am sure other members of this House will take the opportunity - to very quickly mention those many, many members of government (both Commonwealth and Northern Territory) and non-government organisations, the various volunteer organisations and the many, many ethnic communities – the East Timorese community, the Greek community, the list I have here is 3 or 4 pages long – for their overwhelming support.
It couldn’t happen in any other jurisdiction in Australia, I’m sure. It is a direct reflection of some of the advantages we enjoy in the Northern Territory, where government is small enough and responsive enough through its government departments, and the community is simply Territorian. When Territorians are given an issue and a problem, their hearts open up and they respond enormously, as they did through the Katherine flood and as they have on this occasion. I stand absolutely proud to be the leader of a government representing Territorians and able to represent their efforts throughout this crisis.
I wish also while I’m standing to make particular mention of the efforts of my Deputy Chief Minister. Reflecting on many years of army experience, there are few people to whom you can give a job to and know that you can essentially not worry about it being done. The Deputy Chief Minister has been given extremely difficult jobs on 2 occasions. One was dealing with the Katherine flood, the other dealing with the refugee crisis and Defence liaison right through this East Timorese episode to date. He has responded remarkably, in my opinion. His efforts have been applauded right throughout the NT and Commonwealth public services and throughout non-government agencies. Without a deputy of such calibre, I wonder at times if such issues could be tackled as efficiently as they have been. I thank him and I thank all of those organisations that have been involved to date through this crisis.
In many respects, though, it has just begun. The security issue in East Timor has yet to be played out. One can only hope that events unfold as safely as they have to date. The large effort of reconstruction will take many, many years to complete and the Territory community, through its government and public service and through business and other organisations, are getting ourselves well and truly prepared and positioned to assist and compete in all of those reconstruction efforts.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can advise the House that, since the safe haven facility popularly referred to as ‘Tent City’ in Darwin was constructed, we have processed 1814 East Timorese since the first evacuation from Timor. The largest group at the Kalymnian reception centre at any one time was about 1500 people. The last group of about 120 departed at the weekend and at this stage the camp will begin to be dismantled.
I made that decision last evening after discussions with the Minister for Immigration, Phil Ruddock, who advised me that, following advice to him from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, agreement has been made for outstanding people at risk to be moved from other areas of Indonesia and West Timor direct into East Timor. That is the plan that is in place. That is the plan that is intended to be programmed from this point onwards. Therefore, the need for this facility to remain in place seems unnecessary.
Having said that, we remain prepared with contingency plans to reconstruct that facility if a need arises at very short notice.
I take the opportunity while I am on my feet - and certainly when I make a ministerial statement on East Timor I am sure other members of this House will take the opportunity - to very quickly mention those many, many members of government (both Commonwealth and Northern Territory) and non-government organisations, the various volunteer organisations and the many, many ethnic communities – the East Timorese community, the Greek community, the list I have here is 3 or 4 pages long – for their overwhelming support.
It couldn’t happen in any other jurisdiction in Australia, I’m sure. It is a direct reflection of some of the advantages we enjoy in the Northern Territory, where government is small enough and responsive enough through its government departments, and the community is simply Territorian. When Territorians are given an issue and a problem, their hearts open up and they respond enormously, as they did through the Katherine flood and as they have on this occasion. I stand absolutely proud to be the leader of a government representing Territorians and able to represent their efforts throughout this crisis.
I wish also while I’m standing to make particular mention of the efforts of my Deputy Chief Minister. Reflecting on many years of army experience, there are few people to whom you can give a job to and know that you can essentially not worry about it being done. The Deputy Chief Minister has been given extremely difficult jobs on 2 occasions. One was dealing with the Katherine flood, the other dealing with the refugee crisis and Defence liaison right through this East Timorese episode to date. He has responded remarkably, in my opinion. His efforts have been applauded right throughout the NT and Commonwealth public services and throughout non-government agencies. Without a deputy of such calibre, I wonder at times if such issues could be tackled as efficiently as they have been. I thank him and I thank all of those organisations that have been involved to date through this crisis.
In many respects, though, it has just begun. The security issue in East Timor has yet to be played out. One can only hope that events unfold as safely as they have to date. The large effort of reconstruction will take many, many years to complete and the Territory community, through its government and public service and through business and other organisations, are getting ourselves well and truly prepared and positioned to assist and compete in all of those reconstruction efforts.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016