Canberra’s migrant and refugee settlement services will receive essential funding under the Australian Government’s Diverse Australia Program, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, announced today in the lead up to Harmony Day on March 21.
“The Diverse Australia Program promotes a sense of belonging for everyone in a practical way – [...]
migration
Funding boost for newly arrived migrants and refugees in the ACT
Holy Grail’s Fine a Win for Hospitality Workers
The Federal Magistrates court has fined the Holy Grail restaurant/bar in Kingston and Civic almost $30,000 for breaching workplace relations laws.
Holy Grail first came under investigation in 2006 following complaints by skilled migrant workers working on 457 visas that they were being underpaid.
Further investigation by the Workplace Ombudsman found 24 breaches of the Workplace Relations [...]
Australian Chapter of ‘Collateral Damage’
Senator Kate Lundy was host to the Canberra launch of the Australian chapter of ‘Collateral Damage: The Impact of Anti-Trafficking Measures on Human Rights around the World’.
The report, commissioned by the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW), highlights the issues of trafficking in Australia, including aspects of Australia’s visa system that expose some migrant [...]
Immigration and Multiculturalism Forum
Immigration and Multiculturalism Forum
On Tuesday 11 September 2007 I hosted an Immigration and Multiculturalism Forum at Parliament House. Over 130 people attended to discuss Labor’s policies regarding immigration and multicultural affairs.
Mr Tony Burke MP, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Integration and Citizenship, and Mr Laurie Ferguson, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, addressed the forum and answered [...]
Australian Citizenship Ammendment Bill 2007 – Second Reading Speech
Australian Citizenship Amendment Bill 2007 – Second Reading Speech
Open Australia link here.
Senator LUNDY (Australian Capital Territory) (1.16 p.m.)
The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 amends the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to provide for the testing of prospective applicants for Australian citizenship by conferral. The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 requires that applicants for citizenship (1) [...]
OWS should reveal the whole truth about Canberra restaurant breaches
114 Canberra restaurants were issued with breach notices by the Office of Workplace Services (OWS) for not meeting minimum employment laws. A total of 218 Canberra restaurants were audited.
OWS has claimed to have recovered around $386,500 for 520 employees that were ripped off.
The question is: how much of that has actually made it into [...]
Canberra Restaurants Banned From Sponsoring Skilled Migrants
Four Canberra restaurants have been banned from sponsoring temporary skilled migrants for up to three years, DIMA told a Senate Estimates Committee yesterday.
Senate Estimates was told that Pangaea Restaurant and Bar, Zeffirelli Pizza Restaurant and Holy Grail have been banned from the 457 visa program for three years from 6 October 2006. Milk and Honey [...]
Radio Kate: Siev X Memorial
Transcript
The 19th October is the fifth anniversary of the sinking of theSIEV X.
I want to thank Steve Biddulph for his initiative in creating the SIEV X memorial.
It commemorates the tragedy that saw 353 lives lost, 146 of whom were children.
The symbolic white poles with artwork from schools, community and church groups were lifted in memory [...]
Radio Kate: Migration Bill
Transcript
Labor welcomes the withdrawal of the controversial Migration Bill.
Every member of the Labor Party was lined up to vote against it and it seems at least one Liberal was prepared to cross the floor in the Senate.
The withdrawal of this appalling Migration Bill relating to the processing of asylum seekers offshore and without the protections [...]
Radio Kate: Canberra Hospitality Workers
Transcript
The Senate heard today that a shocking 164 workers were found to be underpaid by 48 Canberra restaurants in recent investigations.
These investigations and results only occurred as a result of Labor raising complaints about underpaid skilled migrant cooks and chefs in Parliament.
These complaints were ignored by the Government for months.
In an extraordinary ‘own goal’, a [...]
