[Greens-Media] Asylum seekers must be properly protected

[Phillips, Max (Sen K. Nettle)]

Asylum seekers must be properly protected

2 May 2006

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said today that revelations that
Chinese officials were allowed to interview asylum seekers, some of whom
have since been found to be genuine refugees contravenes the Refugee
Convention and is of great concern.

"Reports on ABC radio that the Australian government has an agreement
that allowed foreign officials access to asylum seekers is unacceptable
and a clear breach of the Refugee Convention," said Senator Nettle.

"Minister Vanstone should ensure all such agreements between the
Department of Immigration and foreign governments are made public for
scrutiny by the parliament and community.

"The Minister must also explain how this could have happened and ensure
that it does not happen in the future.

"Unfortunately this fits into a pattern of behaviour by this government.

"Under the secret Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, officials from
the Islamic Republic were allowed to visit Iranian asylum seekers in
2003.

"The West Timorese family being detained on Christmas Island told me
that Indonesian officials were allowed to photograph and question them
against their will in Darwin before their asylum claims were assessed
and that DIMA tried to put them on an Indonesian bound aircraft.

"Such practices and agreements demonstrate a willingness by the
Australian government to prioritise trade relationships with such
countries ahead of our international obligations to asylum seekers and
commitment to human rights."

Contact: Max Phillips - 0414 338 526