PM Anthony Albanese returns to Central Queensland for first time since election win
Anthony Albanese has descended on a regional industrial heartland in his first trip to Queensland since sweeping to power, in a signal of his plan govern for the whole nation, while also assuring Biloela’s asylum seeker family “a solution is on the way”.
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A Sri Lankan asylum seeker family hoping to permanently resettle in central Queensland have been assured “a solution is on the way” in a private meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his trip to Gladstone.
Mr Albanese and his inner circle convened on the regional industrial heartland in the first trip to Queensland since sweeping to power – in a visit designed to signal Labor’s desire to govern for the whole nation regardless of allegiance.
The high-powered visit will also act as a launching pad into other parts of Queensland, with some ministers undertaking trips, including to Townsville to speak with stakeholders.
The Nadesalingam family have been back in Biloela – a 1.5 hour drive from Gladstone – for less than a week after the new Labor government intervened in their long-running fight for protection from deportation.
But Priya, husband Nades and their two daughters Kopika, 7, and Tharnicaa, 5, haven’t yet been granted a permanent visa.
The family’s long-time advocate and lawyer Angela Fredericks said Mr Albanese had assured them the wheels were in motion for a solution to let the Nadesalingams remain in Australia permanently.
Ultimately, the decision on a permanent visa would need to be signed off by the new Labor government Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.
“However, today we walk away feeling really reassured and I guess knowing that we’ve got some more happy days that will be coming,” Ms Fredericks said.
Earlier, Mr Albanese reiterated that he saw “no impediment to the family being settled permanently here in Australia”.
His trip to Gladstone – home of Queensland’s oldest and largest coal-fired power station – comes amid an escalating energy crisis driven by an unprecedented mix of factors, including the war in Ukraine and a cold snap.
In a town whose fortunes are tied quite closely to a handful of large industrial employers, Mr Albanese spent the morning touring Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery. Later, Mr Albanese addressed 250 community members, largely Labor supporters and union members, and spruiked the government’s plan to use the transition to renewable
energy as an “opportunity” to create new industries and jobs in the regions.
“One of the things that makes that possible is investment certainty by having a government at the national level that understands that climate change is real, that climate change is having an impact on our environment, but also climate change is an opportunity,” he said.
Mr Albanese was due to fly back to Canberra, where he is scheduled to host premiers and chief ministers at a dinner on Thursday night before the first national cabinet on Friday.
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