[Greens-Media] Labor’s dangerous lurch to the right on refugees must be avoided

Tue Jul 2 10:27:24 EST 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Labor’s dangerous lurch to the right on refugees must be avoided

The Australian Greens are deeply concerned by the Labor Party’s continued, baseless claims regarding refugees and its looming lurch to the right on immigration policy.

“The people who were disappointed by Julia Gillard’s lurch to the right will be heartbroken if Kevin Rudd goes even further,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“We need to see a new, humane approach from the government, not a repeat of the Howard-era cruelty.

“Over 90% of boat arrivals are genuine refugees and no amount of political rhetoric will change that.

“It is disgraceful for Bob Carr to try to tamper with the essential process of refugee determination, which saves peoples’ lives, for cheap political gain.

“You can’t change the goal posts when you’re making life and death decisions.

“By committing to an emergency intake of up to 10,000 refugees out of Indonesia when he visits there this week, the Prime Minister could show refugees that there are safer pathways than boats.

“The Houston Panel also recommended an extra $70 million be spent in the region, which could boost refugee assessment capacity and provide welfare support for families waiting to be resettled.

“The Greens are standing up for a caring and rational response to the humanitarian crisis in our region and I urge Kevin Rudd to do the same.”

Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760<tel:0427%20604%20760>

NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  MEDIA ADVISER

OFFICE OF SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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