Greens senator Nick McKim ‘a migrant inquiry no-show’

Greens senator Nick McKim has been savaged by MPs for failing to attend a single meeting of an inquiry into migration issues.

Greens senator Nick McKim.

Greens senator Nick McKim has been savaged by Labor and Liberal MPs on the parliamentary ­migration committee for failing to attend a single meeting — including with refugee groups, social workers and police — during a year-long inquiry into the integration of migrants.

Liberal MP Jason Wood and Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou ridiculed the outspoken Greens senator for labelling Melbourne crime concerns as “racist” when he refused to meet members of the ­Sudanese community as part of the committee’s research.

They say he submitted a dissenting report criticising all of the committee’s findings without taking part in the process.

The inquiry was designed to recommend ways for migrants to be better settled and integrated into Australia to avoid being cut off from mainstream society and falling into gangs or crime.

Ms Vamvakinou, who submitted a dissenting report with Labor MPs disagreeing with a number of recommendations of the committee, said Senator McKim showed “disregard” for the committee and for migrant communities.

“The Labor and government members had areas where we disagreed, but we worked together to find common ground and Senator McKim was completely missing in that exercise, and then had the temerity to put in a dissenting report to trivialise (the) inquiry,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

“He missed the opportunity to listen to a wide range of people who participated in this inquiry in the community, including from the South Sudanese community itself, to speak with them, to engage with them and to listen to what they had to say.

“It is easy to sit on the sidelines and cheer or jeer, but the real hard work and the commitment is to get in there and help shape policy.”

Mr Wood said the Greens were hypocritical to criticise government MPs for voicing concerns about African gang crime in Melbourne. “They put themselves forward as the caring party for refugees but when it comes to actually listening to them at public meetings they could not be bothered; no interest at all. It is all huff and no puff,” he said.

Senator McKim said his dissenting report was based on submissions and “transcripts from the inquiry”.

“Mr Wood set up this inquiry at great public expense as a blatant campaigning tool for the Victorian Liberal Party and for Peter Dutton to continue his attacks on migrant children. It was not set up in good faith,’’ he said.

“I have frequent meetings with migrant and multicultural groups from across Australia, and unlike Mr Wood and Ms Vamvakinou, I don’t demand that they justify their right to be in Australia.”