[Greens-Media] Refugees will be an election issue: Greens

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Refugees will be an election issue: Greens

17 June 2007

Speaking at the World Refugee Day rally in Melbourne on Sunday, Greens
Spokesperson on Immigration Senator Kerry Nettle said the treatment of
asylum seekers would be an issue for many people come election day later
this year.

"The treatment of asylum seekers will always be a massive blight on the
Howard government's record," said Senator Nettle

"Many voters will be looking at how the parties treat asylum seekers
when they go to the polls in a few months and both Labor and Liberal
still support mandatory detention.

"There are still 87 people who have been in immigration detention longer
than 2 years.  One woman has now been detained for 6-and-a-half years.  

"Just this week I received a petition from over 10,000 Australians
calling for the abandonment of the massive new detention centre on
Christmas Island.  

"Climate change will create 250 million displaced people between now and
2050.  The government is doing nothing to prepare for this.

"Next week I will introduce a Private Members Bill to formally recognise
and create mechanisms to deal with climate refugees.  

"The first climate refugees are likely to be in our own Pacific region
from low lying islands." Senator Nettle said. 

Contact: Kristian Bolwell 0411 638 320