Former Liberal politician Petro Georgiou was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his influence on multiculturalism at the 2015 Migration and Settlement Awards this week.
Mr Georgiou served as the federal member for Kooyong, in Melbourne’s east, from 1994 until his retirement in 2010, when he was succeeded by current Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
In accepting the achievement, Georgiou was highly critical of Australia’s handling of asylum seekers.
“What we now have is a legacy of over 1,500 people who have come under our protection, detained for years on Manus Island and Nauru with no end in sight. Our treatment of these women and children is, I believe, wrong. And I believe that an increasing number of Australians, once they appreciate what is happening, will regard it as unacceptable,” he said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott acknowledged the positive impact winners and nominees had on migration at the Awards – held at Parliament House in Canberra.
“These awards acknowledge the hard work and the dedication of those who are helping the newest members of our team to become the fullest of participants.”
Others to have been acknowledged for their services and impact on migration and multiculturalism were the ACT Women’s Legal Centre, the AFL and the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland.