City of Salisbury stands in solidarity with Afghan community
As a devastating situation unfolds in Afghanistan, Salisbury is committed to supporting our community including the more than 2,200 local residents who were born in Afghanistan.
Council on Monday (August 23) evening formally moved to stand in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and acknowledge the sacrifices many Afghans made over the last 20 years working with Australian and NATO partners to help free Afghanistan from the Taliban.
Council is committed to working with the local Hazara and Afghan communities and provide support where appropriate, while calling on the federal government to implement a number of actions, including;
- Return to Australia all Afghan residents, including their families, who have worked with or assisted Australian Defence or consular personnel in Afghanistan
- Immediately announce humanitarian refugee visas for ethnic minorities, such as the Hazara community, and civilians at risk who have worked and assisted the West
- Immediately provide Australian protection visas for the thousands of Afghans living in Australia
- Prioritise and increase the number of Australian family reunion visas for Australians who have family members in Afghanistan.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM said it was important that Council showed support to members of our Afghan community.
City of Salisbury is committed to being a welcoming and liveable City that supports the wellbeing and inclusivity of all of our residents, who are from a diverse range of backgrounds.
It is vital that we support our valued Afghan community – which makes up 1.6 per cent of the Salisbury population – in any way we can during what is no doubt a difficult and traumatic time for many.