[Greens-Media] Refugee Convention too important to tamper with

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 18 July 2013

Refugee Convention too important to tamper with

Labor cannot let the race to the bottom with Tony Abbott affect our strong commitment to protecting people who are fleeing war and persecution, the Australian Greens have said.

"We can't let Kevin Rudd retreat from Australia's proud history of giving protection to people in desperate need," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"It's not the Refugee Convention that's at fault here, it's the cheap politics being played with refugees' lives.

"Many Australians will be disappointed that a Labor Prime Minster is willing to play the dog whistle like this, threatening one of the most important human rights documents in the world.

"The convention has been the bedrock of protection for millions of people, ever since it came into existence after World War II.

"We need a new approach to refugee policy in Australia; a more caring, humane approach. So far all we've heard about Kevin Rudd's planned announcement is more cruelty, more harsh measures that won't help people in need and won't stop people dying at sea.


"What we need to acknowledge is that cruel deterrence policies don't work and they aren't saving lives.


"The government needs to act on the Houston Panel's recommendation that we take 3,800 refugees out of Indonesia and resettle them here in Australia. That will take the pressure off desperate refugees being forced onto dangerous boats, offering them a safer pathway.

"We are facing a humanitarian emergency, not a national emergency as Tony Abbott has said."

Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  MEDIA ADVISER

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