[Greens-Media] Sen Kerry Nettle: Lawyers should have access to Burmese clients

[Phillips, Max (Sen K. Nettle)]

Lawyers should have access to Burmese clients

19 August 2006

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today called on the government to
allow the Burmese asylum seekers now on Christmas Island full access to
their lawyer and for them to be brought to Australia while their claims
are processed.

"It is great that the asylum seekers have managed to make a written
request for a lawyer. Now the government must allow the lawyers full
access to their clients," said Senator Nettle.

"Asylum seekers access to lawyers should not rely on them being able to
contact a lawyer.  The government needs to ensure that all asylum
seekers are offered legal support.

"The best way to ensure the Burmese asylum seekers have full access to
their lawyer is to bring them to Australia while their asylum claims are
assessed.

"These asylum seekers must not be taken to Nauru. A major problem with
off-shore processing is that asylum seekers are isolated from legal
assistance.  In the past, lawyers have been denied visas to Nauru and
have not been able to take instructions from their clients.

"The treatment of the Burmese asylum seekers will be a test of whether
the government truly believes asylum seekers should have access to legal
assistance, or whether their recent promises regarding this were simply
a ploy to convince backbenchers to support their plan to send all asylum
seekers to Nauru.

"Why should these Burmese asylum seekers be treated worse than the West
Papuans?  The Australian government has recognized the horrendous human
rights abuses that continue to occur in Burma."
 
Contact: Max Phillips - 0414 338 526