Politicians cop a bit of stick sometimes—you know, the “snouts in the trough” line and all that—but you’re a busy lad. I reckon if people walked a mile in your shoes, they’d see that politicians put in a lot of dedication and work pretty hard. Sounds like you’ve been doing plenty lately.
SENATOR SCARR:
Well, Murray, it’s a real privilege to represent Queensland as a senator, and there are lots of things to do. It’s really important in my role to get across the state and visit different places. Today I’m heading up to Mareeba for a citizenship ceremony—there’ll be 16 new citizens there.
HOST:
Unreal. And it’s interesting you bring that up, because immigration is front and centre in public dialogue at the moment—particularly in areas like Mareeba and the Tablelands, especially for farming and industry. Getting the balance right when it comes to immigration is essential.
SENATOR SCARR:
Absolutely, Murray—it’s all about getting the balance right, and it’s a complex issue. You’ve got competing priorities between major cities—Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane—but immigration is vital for regional and rural centres as well. It supports industries and helps communities grow and thrive.
Mareeba is a great example—a multicultural town with a strong history of successful migration. You’ve got Italian and Albanian communities, and today people from seven different countries—from Brazil to the UK to New Zealand and Vietnam—becoming Australian citizens.
It’s one of the real privileges of my role to preside over these ceremonies and see new citizens take their pledge to Australia.
HOST:
You know, we often hear about a very small percentage of migrants doing the wrong thing, but the vast majority—over 99%—see it as a great opportunity, a humbling experience, and they do the right thing. I think that’s important to keep in focus.
SENATOR SCARR:
Absolutely. “Humbling” is the right word. The overwhelming feeling I see at these ceremonies is gratitude—gratitude for the opportunity Australia gives them and their families.
Last year, Australia marked a significant milestone—successfully settling its one-millionth refugee since World War Two. That’s a huge contribution to our country, and many of those people have gone on to make incredible contributions to our communities.
HOST:
One issue that’s come up lately is the importance of English. For many migrants it’s not their first language, but having a good grasp of English is key to integrating and finding work.
SENATOR SCARR:
Absolutely—English is vital. And we need to provide opportunities, especially for older migrants and refugees, to learn English so they can integrate successfully.
I’ve seen great grassroots programs where communities support each other—people teaching English within their own cultural groups. That kind of local initiative is really important.
HOST:
Let’s change tack a bit. Speaking of Mareeba, my father-in-law mentioned a 100% increase in his insurance. Residential insurance is one thing, but I understand small business insurance is becoming a real issue too?
SENATOR SCARR:
It is. I’m currently on a Senate committee looking into the cost and availability of insurance for small business.
We’ve heard evidence from industries like caravan parks, tourism and amusement operators who are struggling to get insurance—or to get it at an affordable price. It’s a real concern because businesses need protection against risk.
We have seen some improvement through the cyclone reinsurance pool, which has helped bring premiums down in North Queensland, but more needs to be done.
HOST:
And that includes caravan park owners?
SENATOR SCARR:
That’s right. It’s causing practical issues—some owners can’t even sell their businesses because buyers can’t get insurance.
There’s more work to be done to better assess risk and help businesses access affordable coverage.
HOST:
Great to have you in the studio this morning. I hadn’t met you before, but Queensland Senator Paul Scarr—wonderful to have you in town. Have a great day and we’ll catch up again soon.
SENATOR SCARR:
I’ve really enjoyed it, Murray, and thanks for the coffee.
