Newly sworn-in Labor Senator Mehmet Tillem is the first Turkish-born member of the Australian parliament and the second Muslim-Australian MP.
In his short time in federal politics Senator Tillem has managed to cause a stir -- controversially attending a speech given by one of the world's most vocal Armenian genocide deniers in November.
And in his first speech to parliament Senator Tillem said it was because of the Fraser Coalition government's "humane" approach to illegal immigrants that he is here today.
Thea Cowie spoke to Senator Tillem about his politics and his journey to Australia in 1976.
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