[Greens-Media] Sen. KERRY NETTLE: Ashmore arrivals should not be sent to Nauru

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

Ashmore arrivals should not be sent to Nauru

14.08.06

Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle has called on the
government to listen to the community and parliament and not send the 8
asylum seekers who have arrived on Ashmore Reef to Nauru.

"It's appalling that on the day that the Prime Minister withdrew its
bill to send asylum seekers to Nauru the Minister is proposing to do
just that," Senator Nettle said.

"The last time anyone was sent to Nauru was over four years ago, given
today's defeat of the migration legislation this looks like another
cynical and cruel political move.

"The Minister is deliberately keeping secret the nationality, age and
sex of the new arrivals in a blatant attempt to dehumanise them by
referring to them as unlawful arrivals instead of human beings.

"The government will regret banishing these new arrivals because
community sentiment is not with them.

"These asylum seekers should be brought to the mainland and processed
fairly and compassionately in accordance with our international
obligations."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146