Ms BURNET question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Today we are joined by Devarshi Deka and his parents Kula and Deepali – and I urge you to meet with them – and principal petitioner, Ayman Jaffri. Today I will table a petition signed by almost 6500 Tasmanians whose wish is for Dev to stay in Tasmania to receive the medical treatment and rehabilitation he needs after sustaining injuries during an alleged attack, leaving him severely debilitated. This is a strong message from the Tasmanian community that this island will not tolerate racism.
Unfortunately, Dev will find acquiring permanent residency difficult because he will not be able to pass a medical test as part of his application. It means that he will be sent back to India to his former home, many kilometres from the closest medical help he needs. Will you do as thousands of Tasmanians want, and urgently write to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, calling on him to grant Mr Devarshi Deka permanent residency to stay in Tasmania with his community and get the care he needs?
Madam SPEAKER – I note the question went a little over time but given the presence of people in the Chamber, I call the Premier to answer.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Clark for the question. I acknowledge Mr Deka and his family and advocates in the Chamber with us today and also, of course, acknowledge the horrific circumstances in which Mr Deka finds himself and the implications for not only his physical wellbeing but wellbeing more broadly and the family as well.
I well appreciate the very worrying circumstances of the family, reflected in the 6000 Tasmanians who have quite rightly put their names to a petition in advocacy for Mr Deka. That reflects the very deep compassion that all Tasmanians have for the circumstances of Mr Deka which have led to Mr Deka being in the Chamber here with us today and the advocates on behalf of Mr Deka. As correctly stated by the member, Mr Giles is the federal minister responsible for these matters and I am more than willing to make representation to Canberra on behalf of Mr Deka and his family.
I acknowledge the work of another member for Clark as well, Ms Ogilvie, who is engaging with Mr Deka and the family, as I understand it, and indeed many members around this Chamber more broadly.
Regarding the circumstances leading up to the horrific incident, we need to do more when it comes to supporting our multicultural communities. We have a very proud record in Tasmania, but we also need to vigorously invest and do all we can when it comes to stamping out racism in Tasmania. It is utterly abhorrent and in my very strong view not a reflection of the Tasmanian people. The Tasmanian people are reflected in the 6000 petitioners, whose petition no doubt you will table today.
I thank you very much for the representation. Of course we will make a representation to Canberra on the families’ behalf. I reiterate that senseless acts of violence have no place in Tasmania under any circumstances.
