[Greens-Media] Greens urge cabinet to scrap Temporary Protection Visas: issue permanent residency

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

17.03.05

Greens urge cabinet to scrap Temporary Protection Visas: issue permanent
residency

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today urged the federal cabinet to recognise
the injustice of Temporary Protection Visas and scrap them as part of
their review of the immigration system.

"Temporary Protection Visa's (TPVs) do not live up to the spirit of
international refugee law because they do not allow refugees to make new
lives for themselves, instead leaving them in limbo. They should be
scrapped," Senator Nettle said.

"The Greens are heartened that the cabinet is considering changes to the
TPV regime and call on them to heed community calls for these hard
working refugees to be allowed to stay permanently in Australia.

"We have an un-utilised human resource right here in Australia in the
form of asylum seekers in detention and refugees on temporary protection
visas in the community, yet the government prefers to spend money
persecuting these people than allowing them to make a contribution to
Australia.

"Mandatory Detention costs tax payers an enormous amount.  This money
could be re-directed toward skills training for refugees.

"Instead of spending $150 - $200 a day per detainee to keep them behind
the razor wire, we could be training these people to help fill demand
for willing skilled workers.
	 
"Refugees are often highly skilled.  One of the reasons people are
forced to flee countries like Iran and Iraq is that they were prominent
and active in their community and therefore pose a threat to the powers
that be.

"The Greens have long called for mandatory detention and temporary
protection visas to be abolished for basic human rights reasons.  But it
also makes economic sense."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146