[Greens-Media] Vanstone ducks consequences of illogical refugee policy

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

09.12.04

Vanstone ducks consequences of illogical refugee policy


Senator Kerry Nettle confronted the Minister for Immigration in question
time today over her view that Iraqi asylum seekers should go home when
International Organisation for Migration IOM officials on Nauru have
told Iraqi detainees that they cannot go home.

"The Minister refused to acknowledge that her call for Iraqi asylum
seekers to go home was misleading," Senator Nettle said.

Last week 14 Iraqis were refused visas and then attempted to sign
'voluntary return' forms. They were told by IOM officials in Nauru that
they could not return to Iraq because the 'borders are closed'.

"The Minister surely knows that Iraq's borders are closed. Her
performance in question time today only serves to confirm that her
decision to keep these people locked up on Nauru is inexplicably
callous.

"The Minister would rather joke about Christmas in her answer than face
up to the horrific situation she has left these 14 Iraqis facing.

"I am appalled at this refusal of the Minister to deal honestly with the
consequences of government policy.

"The UNHCR has made a request the all Iraqi asylum seekers be released
from detention until the security situation in Iraq improves. The Greens
call on the government to accept the logic of this argument and release
these individuals."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146