Launceston's Hazara community members have been left buoyed after a having their concerns heard by Tasmanian federal political leaders.
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Community representatives met with Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer and Bass Greens federal candidate Cecily Rosol standing in for Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to explain difficulties continually faced when applying for visas, particularly in light of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
The Hazara are an ethic group native to Afghanistan with an estimated population of more than eight million.
The group has a specific language group, and has large diaspora populations in Pakistan and Iran. Australia is thought to be home to the fourth largest population of Hazara people, and Launceston has a healthy population of about 300 to 400.
Launceston Hazara Association president Yousef Mohammadi said the meeting was organised so his community could convey some of the struggles they had faced when trying to help out family members to apply for visas.
He said there had been language breakdowns between Home Affairs Department translators and applicants, and the visa forms were often "too lengthy and complicated" making it "almost impossible" to apply.
Mr Mohammadi said the main point the group wanted to convey was that the 3000 humanitarian visas on offer to people stuck in Afghanistan would not be enough to help out those in danger of the Taliban.
He said an update on application status of the visas from members of the Launceston Hazara community made on behalf of family members overseas had not yet been provided.
The strong Launceston Hazara community also wanted to explain that an incentive for them to stay in the regionally classified area would be if family members could join them and build a larger community.
In speaking to the federal politicians, the Hazara community hoped their local members would be able to convey some of their localised concerns to their federal compatriots like Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and Immigration Minister Alexander Hawke.
Ms Archer said the meeting was part of ongoing dialogue with the local Hazara group.
"[Monday night] was a continuation of my in-depth discussions with out Northern Tasmanian Afghan community about the evolving situation in their home country," she said.
"I am continuing to advocate on a range of measures including for an increase in our current intake numbers and for more certainty in the timeline for visa processing to alleviate some of the distress that loved ones here are facing."
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