Brown Congratulates Crean on Decision to Back Greens Disallowance on Islands Excision

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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Friday, 14 June 2002

Brown Congratulates Crean on Decision to Back Greens Disallowance on Islands
Excision

Greens Senator Bob Brown has congratulated Labor leader Simon Crean on his
decision to back the Greens disallowance of the Government's excisions of
northern Australian islands from the migration zone.

"Simon Crean has taken a large step in moving Labor from the 'me-tooism' on
asylum seekers it proffered during the election campaign," Senator Brown
said.

"The Government's move to excise thousands of islands from the migration
zone is a damaging attempt to further divide Australia and Australians.  It
is also a breach of our international obligations under the Refugee
Convention.

"I am pleased for this country that Labor will help block the Government's
move in the Senate.

"The 'pacific solution' is now unravelling. It is expensive, ill considered
and heartless. It's time Howard abandoned it.

"And Labor should now drop its support for mandatory detention so that
Australia can catch up with European best practice and begin repairing the
damage that has been done to our humanitarian reputation.

"If the Senate does not stand firm against Mr Howard and Mr Ruddock now,
excisions of parts of mainland Australia will follow," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ben Oquist 02 62773170 or 0419704095


Ben Oquist
Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown
02 62773170 ph
02 62773185 fx
www.bobbrown.org.au



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