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Myanmar humanitarian visas prioritised

By AAP Newswire

Nov 10, 2022

SENATE ESTIMATES — People from Myanmar applying for humanitarian visas will be prioritised, Penny Wong says. -AAP Image

People from Myanmar in Australia applying for humanitarian visas will be prioritised as the government expresses grave concerns.

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The government says the reduced waiting times would provide certainty to the community in Australia after the 2021 coup which led to the military overthrowing the democratically elected government.

More than 1600 offshore humanitarian visas have been granted to Myanmar nationals.

But the Australian government remains under pressure to announce targeted sanctions against human rights abusers in Myanmar following the coup.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she understands the concerns of the community in Australia.

"I'm trying as a foreign minister to work through a very complicated set of circumstances," she told Senate estimates on Thursday.

Australian professor Sean Turnell remains imprisoned in Myanmar after being sentenced to three years jail for national security offences, which Canberra rejects the premise of.

Senator Wong said targeted sanctions remain under "active consideration".

She said Australia is hoping the regional body ASEAN would help resolve the situation, but noted "that hope is fading".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend ASEAN-related meetings in Cambodia in coming days.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press