I thought our charming new PM could release a statement like this on Armistice Day. What do you think?
DETENTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO BE ABOLISHED AND DETENTION CENTRES CLOSED
11 November 2015 (Armistice Day) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joint Media Release:
Prime Minister, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull
Immigration Minister, The Hon. Peter Dutton
Today in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the Government would abolish detention of asylum seekers and refugees, “because it is too expensive”.
“Our policy of detaining asylum seekers, turning back boats and trying to relocate refugees in other countries has cost the taxpayer over 3.5 billion dollars a year and has not achieved our purposes.”
We will spend this money more productively through setting up and maintaining community facilities for refugees. We will increase overseas aid to develop safer pathways to protect asylum seekers from drowning and reduce the effects of world wide social unrest and displacement.
We will not renew contracts for the 17 detention centres. They will be closed. We will provide the asylum seekers, including 215 children, with protection visas while we efficiently assess their claims.
Amendments to the Migration Act, to validate these initiatives, will be introduced to the Parliament next week with the support of the crossbenchers.
“Australia is a democratic society that believes in a fair go for all and respects all people’s right to seek asylum. We have always prided ourselves on being able to offer assistance to others in times of extreme hardship.”
Our refugee intake will be increased because it contributes economically to the community and reduces the number of boats. We receive .3% of the world’s refugees; people arriving by boat only make up 4% of our total yearly intake. Over the past 15 years, we have assessed 94% of boat people as refugees, genuinely fleeing persecution. None were assessed as terrorists.
The Prime Minister said: “We are a generous people who want to spend wisely and respond humanely to people who are fleeing war, torture and persecution. The previous policy of detaining asylum seekers will no longer be pursued.”
For more information contact:
Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, MP Email: www.pm.gov.au/contact
OR
Parliament House PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: 02 6277 7700 Fax: 02 6277 4100
OR
Look at these wonderful websites:
Australian Human Rights Commission
Detention of Asylum Seekers a Questionable Policy
Fragments of memory & thought 