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- 21 September 2006
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
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Ms CLOVER MOORE (Bligh) [4.21 p.m.]: I speak in support of many constituents who are deeply concerned about the Commonwealth Government's treatment of refugees and who call upon the Commonwealth Government to respect human rights, ensure fair treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, and comply with our international obligations as global citizens. My inner-city electorate includes people who have come to Australia from many countries—people who were forced to flee persecution and repression, or who were looking for a better life. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the Bligh electorate strengthens and enriches our community. The city of Sydney is home to 200 different nationalities, and this diversity comes home to me each month when I hold citizenship ceremonies as the Lord Mayor of Sydney.
I share the distress of constituents who regularly write, email and telephone me to express their opposition to the Commonwealth Government's treatment of people who have been forced to leave their homes and who are urgently seeking a better, safer and secure future for themselves and their families. I note that Australia is committed to supporting that principle under Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite that commitment, many Australians feel disgraced and disillusioned by the shock of hearing and seeing the stories of mistreatment of refugees and the maladministration of process. It is beyond belief that such misconduct could happen in our rich and civilised country. These concerns were made vividly real with the Edmund Rice Centre's evidence that an Afghani family, including two children who were deported from Australia, were murdered on their return to Afghanistan.
Australia's immigration policies conflict with international standards, and undermine our basic values. In 2004 the United Nations High Commission for Refugees recognised 9.2 million refugees worldwide. In the same year, Australia accepted only 5,511 people who were classified as refugees, even though Australia has a greater capacity than most to accept and support refugees. Immigration policy and our treatment of refugees and asylum seekers must be reshaped. I believe that most Australians are compassionate. We all know that refugees do not choose to leave their homes. Many flee in fear of their lives, and in those circumstances it is understandable that they cannot get passports or visas, and that they seek and need our help.
Like many Australians, I was relieved that the Commonwealth Government withdrew its Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006, which would have further disgraced and ashamed Australians by setting more false borders in place. Australians want a safe and secure country. We want a fair and efficient assessment of those who are seeking asylum. However, a system that punishes 90 per cent of people to detain 10 per cent whose claims are contested is wrong. Nine out of 10 so-called illegal refugees have a legitimate reason for applying for asylum, based on the Commonwealth Government's own assessment. As Lord Mayor, I recently held a reception to help raise funds for the group Bridge for Asylum Seekers Foundation. Their asylum seekers project, which the Council of the City of Sydney has funded, helps refugees who are released into the community on bridging visas.
A bridging visa allows someone to stay in Australia while their refugee claim is being processed, but with no access to health care, work, or government assistance. The foundation provides weekly support to such refugees, without which they would be destitute. I believe that the donations of time and money from ordinary people, such as those who are involved with the Bridge for Asylum Seekers Foundation, demonstrates that Australians want to help. Over 100,000 people supported GetUp's "No Child in Detention" campaign, again demonstrating that many Australians do not support current policies. I also commend the efforts of A Just Australia, the national body that provides advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers in the hope of engendering policies and programs that "reflect respect, decency and traditional Australian generosity", and I urge the Commonwealth Government to listen and learn from these groups.
I call on the Commonwealth Government to reverse unjust policies. I share the goals of Amnesty International Australia, which seeks an independent review to assess the necessity of detention for all asylum seekers held in immigration detention centres in Australia and on Nauru. Asylum seekers should be detained only in exceptional circumstances, consistent with international human rights standards. The Commonwealth Government should grant bridging visas to those whose detention does not meet international standards, and should immediately release all stateless people. The Government should also introduce complementary protection to allow stateless people and others who need Australia's protection to join the community and get on with their lives. I congratulate Federal parliamentarians who have taken a personal stance against these shameful policies. I encourage members of this Parliament to also push for compassion and justice.
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