We had a win that we didn’t expect to be celebrating with you today.

In a shock move last night, the Morrison Government announced that there will be an additional 16,500 humanitarian visas for people from Afghanistan over the next four years. 

This is a victory.

A victory that could not have happened without you joining with 190,000 others in signing our petition in support of the Action For Afghanistan campaign. A victory that resulted from your efforts writing hundreds of emails, making phone calls and supporting tireless advocacy. 

So, thank you.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the diaspora of people from Afghanistan and the Australian public have called on the Morrison Government to take action. They finally listened.  

The 16,500 places will be in addition to the already announced 15,000 places over the next four years within the existing intake. 

That is 31,500 people who can now start to rebuild their lives in a supportive community here in Australia.

But our work is not done yet. 

Since the fall of Kabul, more than 145,000 people from Afghanistan have applied directly to Australia for protection and unfortunately, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening.

Now we must make sure that these humanitarian applications are processed quickly and people from Afghanistan are given the support they need. 

There are still thousands of people from Afghanistan in Australia kept on temporary visas, unable to rebuild their lives and prevented from reuniting with family. Permanent protection must be offered. 

After Australia’s two-decade-long invasion of Afghanistan, there is still a moral obligation that has not been fully addressed. 

But we have shifted the Government, and in doing so, provided safety to thousands of people. 

Thank you all for the role you played in this. 

Now onto the next win.

In hope,

Batoor and Arif on behalf of Action for Afghanistan Campaign