Independence is a significant step forward for a peoples and region that has suffered considerable humanitarian and security challenges for many years. 

Australia is home to 29,000 Sudanese, most of them refugees who fled among the chaos of war and upheaval.

Indeed, Sudanese are one of the fastest growing communities in Australia, growing 34 per cent each year on average over the last decade.

In 2011 -11 the Australian Government contributed $23 million to Southern Sudan including $4 million for the conduct of the referendum, $3 million to the United Nations Development Programme, $1 million to the International Organisation for Migration and assistance for Sudanese voting within Australia.

This funding is assisting the nation’s development process directly after the referendum to provide health, education and other essential services, specifically to ensure that women and children are taken care of.

This contribution is also in addition to the $113 million already given to South Sudan in humanitarian assistance since 2004.

I was also pleased that the Australian Government will look to provide $10,000 to assist the Federation of the Southern Sudanese Community of Australia for the community celebration in Melbourne this weekend.

That Australia could play such an important role to assist in the future and stability of this new nation is truly humbling. 

For people to be able to feel that they can use skills and education learnt in Australia for the rebuilding of the country they once fled in fear of persecution is a once in a lifetime honour.  

It makes me truly proud of our settlement services and the work they do to support refugees and asylum seekers in Australia and demonstrates the positive role Australia can play as a global citizen.  

below is a motion I moved in the Senate on the 7th of July in recognition of South Sudan Independence:

1. It notes that:

(i)    On 9^th July two new nations will emerge, the nations of South Sudan and Sudan. This follows an overwhelming vote for independence by voters in South Sudan’s referendum for independence on 9^th January. Their futures are interdependent and their stability has broader regional security implications for north and east Africa.

(ii)  The emerging picture confronting both new nations is dire and with significant political, humanitarian and developmental challenges. The overall security situation in Sudan is deteriorating at an alarming rate, with severe humanitarian consequences with millions of civilians in both Sudan and southern Sudan in need of protection and critical humanitarian assistance.

(iii) Sudan, after Zimbabwe, is the second largest recipient of Australia’s humanitarian and development assistance. Since 2004, the Australian Government has provided $136 million to Sudan.

(iv) The North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 ended over two decades of civil war.  Recent violence, and outstanding issues such as border demarcation, oil sharing revenue, currency and citizenship status, are undermining prospects for peace and stability.

(v)   Sudan has the highest level overall of people remaining internally displaced according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the highest number of people newly displaced by conflict. The plight of IDPs and Sudanese refugees will therefore continue to be a shared legacy of decades of conflict.

2.   Expresses deep concern at the protracted nature of the conflict and displacement in Darfur, now in its eighth year. The UN estimates that 300,000 people have been killed as a result of violence, malnutrition and starvation and 4 million people are in desperate need of aid, representing nearly two thirds of the entire estimated Darfur population of 6.5 million. An estimated 2.5 million people live in refugee camps in Darfur and neighboring Chad, while others struggle to survive in remote villages.

3.  Notes that humanitarian relief efforts to provide assistance to vulnerable populations are being hampered by limited humanitarian access in some of the most affected conflict areas including in Southern Kordofan and Darfur. Insecurity and inaccessibility remains one of the biggest challenges facing the delivery of assistance by humanitarian agencies to vulnerable populations.

4.   Urges the Government of Southern Sudan and the Government of Sudan to reaffirm their commitment to peace, conflict prevention, the inclusion of the peripheral regions and ethnic minorities in political representation and decision making, and the recognition of cultural and ethnic diversity through durable political solutions.

5.   Encourages the Australian Government to continue assistance to address humanitarian and development needs in Sudan and South Sudan.