Senator VANSTONE (Justice and Customs) (3:01 PM) —Yesterday I was asked two questions by Senator Bartlett, and I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard answers to the two questions.

Leave granted.

The answers read as follows:

IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO

Senator Bartlett asked the questions below in relation to a report in the Sydney

Morning Herald of 21 April concerning Mr Manuel Carrascalao, an East Timorese whose 18 year old son was killed in over the weekend and whose home is being used to shelter refugees from the violence. The report details Mr Carrascalao's request for Australia to provide shelter for those refugees who survived the weekend massacre.

. Does the minister agree with Minister Ruddock's suggestion that the best course of action for these people who are currently in Dili and East Timor hiding for their life is for them to make an initial approach to the Australian embassy over in Jakarta about their situation?

. What measures is Australia taking to enable prompt processing of visa applications of people in East Timor, particularly those who are in reasonable fear of their life?

Answer:

The Australian government is deeply concerned about the recent violence in East Timor. It has been monitoring the situation very closely.

We understand the wish of East Timorese whose family members have suffered as a result of the recent violence to seek to relocate them to Australia on a temporary basis. A situation where all East Timorese can remain in safety and security would be the preferable option.

The Indonesian government and armed forces are responsible for law and order and for protecting the people of East Timor. The Australian government has been in close contact with the Indonesian government to express our concern about the situation and to convey our views on how to resolve the security situation. We have strongly urged the authorities to disarm the militias.

The Prime Minister and Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence will meet with President Habibie early next week to further discuss this issue.

The Australian embassy in Jakarta will continue to process visa applications to Australia according to the requirements of the visa class applied for.

QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE

IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO

Senator Bartlett asked the Minister what measures the Australian government has taken tort ensure swift processing of applications for special humanitarian and other immigration visas for ethnic Albanians in the Kosovo region and what specific plans have been put in place to promptly deal with Kosovar people wanting to apply for permanent refugee status.

Answer:

Australia has made a generous offer of both 4,000 places for temporary resettlement and relief aid. This is in addition to applications being considered for permanent resettlement under the Humanitarian Program.

Offers from the US, Canada and Australia for temporary resettlement are on hold at UNHCR's request while UNHCR takes up temporary resettlement offers from European countries closer to Kosovo in the first instance. However our offer of 4,000 temporary protection places remains in place. We are in a position to—move people within a very short timeframe of UNHCR reactivating its request.

In relation to Kosovo Albanians who have applied for permanent resettlement under the Humanitarian Program, Mr Ruddock has asked that overseas posts process such applications as a matter of priority in view of the extremely difficult situation that many applicants may find themselves in.