[Greens-Media] Australia condemns gay refugees in PNG

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

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, 28 November 2014

Australia condemns gay refugees in PNG

Gay refugees on Manus Island will be attacked and imprisoned if resettled in the PNG community, the Australian Greens have said.

"Physical attacks and lengthy prison sentences; that's the reality facing gay refugees the Abbott government has dumped on Manus Island," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"People who have fled their home countries because they're gay will now face imprisonment in PNG because of the Australians government's actions.

"Homosexuality is a crime in PNG and it carries a shocking maximum sentence of 14 years in jail. The Abbott government's lack of concern for the very people it should be protecting is extremely troubling.

"Gay men are already unsafe inside the Manus camp and the government is trying to resettle them in a community where their sexuality is considered a serious criminal offence.

"When it comes to people seeking protection from war and persecution, the Manus Island camp is not the answer and it needs to be shut down.

"We should be working with our neighbours in the region, accelerating refugee processing and increasing Australia's intake so that people are given a safe way to reach protection. That's the only way we can save lives at sea while caring for refugees."


Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

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