Amnesty International responds to Opposition’s “core principles”
In response to the release today of the Federal Opposition’s “core principles” on border protection, as it relates to asylum seekers, Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia said:
“Amnesty International again rejects the assertion that the Government’s more humane treatment of asylum seekers while in detention has led to an increase in the number of people seeking asylum in Australia by boat.
“The Opposition’s core policy of returning to the system of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs), albeit with a different name, is both objectionable and disappointing. Reinstating this visa would be a step backwards for the recognition of refugees' human rights and damaging to Australia's international reputation.
“There has never been evidence that TPVs succeeded in deterring asylum seekers from attempting to reach Australia by boat. In the two years following the introduction of these visas under the previous government, the number of boat arrivals actually increased, and 90 per cent of those asylum seekers in Australia on TPVs were ultimately granted permanent protection visas.
“Under the TPV system refugees had no rights to family reunion. As such, the most obvious effect of TPVs was an increase in the number of women and children risking the potentially fatal journey to Australia in order to be reunited with their husbands and fathers. This completely discredits the Opposition’s assertion that re-introducing the TPV system will help prevent people smuggling.
“Amnesty International campaigned strenuously for the abolition of the TPV system because it was ineffective and caused further trauma to people who had already suffered extended periods of fear and uncertainty. The organisation is strongly opposed to their reintroduction.
“It is unacceptable for any political party, including the Federal Opposition, to pay lip service to important international agreements such as the UN Convention on Refugees, while at the same time effectively seeking to prevent people from accessing their fundamental right to seek asylum.”
Comments
Andrew J S | Posted on 23 November 2009, 11:51AM | Report comment
Michael, Why are you playing the race card? The only people I hear commenting on the skin colour of Asylum seekers are supporters of Asylum seekers. If you are against Asylum seekers arriving as they currently are - it does not automatically make you a racist as is so often implied by people like yourself. If a bunch of White skinned asylum seekers tried to force there way here by boat, committed acts of violence and riot whilst awaiting for their asylum seeking applications to be processed - Do you really beleive they would be welcome with open arms?
For the record, i don’t like the idea of TPV’s either, you either are granted asylum or not in my book and TPV is neither one nor the other. Courage must be shown to send economic refugees back more promptly and hopefully deter others from using people smugglers, rather than giving a TPV to someone who isn’t really a refugee.
Michael Wild | Posted on 14 November 2009, 12:53PM | Report comment
The opposition’s return to this is sad, mean spirited and shameful. Why Australians get so upset over darked skinned people in boats rather than white skinned people in planes is beyond me.