[Greens-Media] Climate Refugees Bill introduced into Parliament

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Climate Refugees Bill introduced into Parliament

21.06.07

Australian Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle today
introduced the Migration Amendment (Climate Refugees) Bill 2007 into the
Senate. 

"The Bill introduces a new climate refugee visa and sets up mechanisms
for the Minister for Immigration to set the numbers and parameters for
accepting climate refugees," Senator Nettle said

"The Greens hope that all parties will support this important bill that
is the first step to managing what will be a major issue in the coming
decades.

"The Stern report concludes that 150 - 200 million people will be
displaced by climate change by 2050, while Christian Aid estimates up to
250 million climate refugees will be on the move between now and 2050.

"Last week the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon wrote an
opinion piece in the Washington Post arguing that climate change was
partially responsible for the crisis in Dafur which has displaced two
million people.

"The first climate refugees will be in the Pacific from low lying
islands such as Tuvalu and Kiribati.  

"This bill would provide a mechanism for Australia to respond to the
repeated requests from the governments of Tuvalu and Kiribati to take a
set number of climate refugees each year.  

"New Zealand is already taking 75 people from Tuvalu and Kiribati each
year. The Greens are calling on the Government to accept around 300
climate refugees per year that would ease the pressure and assist with
an orderly evacuation as Tuvalu and Kiribati as they succumb to rising
seas.

"The Greens are also calling on the government to create an
international framework to deal with climate refugees. The Greens
Climate bill is due to be debated in August 2007," Senator Nettle said. 

Contact:  Kristian Bolwell 0411 638 320. 
NB For a media briefing see http://www.kerrynettle.org.au/