[Greens-Media] Humanitarian crisis looms, Morrison builds a prison

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

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, 29 November 2013

Humanitarian crisis looms, Morrison builds a prison

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's confirmation that a maximum security prison will be built on Manus Island is a gross waste of money that would be better spent on dealing with the fallout form Indonesia's decision to close its detention centres, the Australian Greens have said.

"When Indonesia closes its detention centres thousands of people will have nowhere to go and more will be forced onto boats," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"Australia should lead a genuine regional solution that would lift the pressure off of Indonesia and give refugees a safe way to reach protection.

"An emergency refugee intake out of Indonesia and Malaysia, while encouraging other countries to do the same, would mirror Australia's successful humanitarian response to the end of the Vietnam War.

"Australia's stubborn refusal to approach the current situation as the humanitarian crisis that it is has taken an incredible toll that is continuing to mount.

"The cost of offshore processing was already tipped to blow out over a billion dollars this year and Scott Morrison's response is to build a prison on a remote Pacific Island.

"The true cost of cruelty is measured in damage to vulnerable children and lives lost when people were not given protection, but the increasing bill in dollars and cents is also staggering.

"Operation Secret Boats is nothing more than a media strategy designed to keep as much information as possible away from the Australian people."


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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