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We need to see more humanity in Australia’s refugee debate We need to see more humanity in Australia’s refugee debate
(2 months later)
Today Tony Abbott said the current refugee situation is a “national emergency”. He was wrong. This is a humanitarian emergency, and it’s one that affects our entire region with men, women and children fleeing brutality in Afghanistan, oppression in Sri Lanka and war in Syria.Today Tony Abbott said the current refugee situation is a “national emergency”. He was wrong. This is a humanitarian emergency, and it’s one that affects our entire region with men, women and children fleeing brutality in Afghanistan, oppression in Sri Lanka and war in Syria.
I believe that Australians are a fundamentally good people who have been profoundly misled by the toxic politics that surrounds the refugee debate right now.I believe that Australians are a fundamentally good people who have been profoundly misled by the toxic politics that surrounds the refugee debate right now.
This morning, the country woke up to the heartbreaking news that four more people have died because they were trying to reach the safety of Australia by boat. This latest tragedy came just days after another group of people, including a baby boy, drowned trying to make the same perilous journey to our shores.This morning, the country woke up to the heartbreaking news that four more people have died because they were trying to reach the safety of Australia by boat. This latest tragedy came just days after another group of people, including a baby boy, drowned trying to make the same perilous journey to our shores.
This latest tragic loss of life at sea points to the failure of the government’s offshore detention and "no advantage" policies. They aren’t stopping people from using whatever means they can to flee war and persecution and, tragically, they’re not saving lives at sea. There are many Labor supporters out there who will be shaking their heads, and wondering how the party has managed to get this so wrong.This latest tragic loss of life at sea points to the failure of the government’s offshore detention and "no advantage" policies. They aren’t stopping people from using whatever means they can to flee war and persecution and, tragically, they’re not saving lives at sea. There are many Labor supporters out there who will be shaking their heads, and wondering how the party has managed to get this so wrong.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is stuck in 2001, with Abbott proudly claiming he’ll just copy John Howard’s failed, harsh approach from over a decade ago.Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is stuck in 2001, with Abbott proudly claiming he’ll just copy John Howard’s failed, harsh approach from over a decade ago.
The Greens are standing up for the vulnerable people in our region, and we understand that harsher treatment of refugees won’t stop them fleeing war. Offering a secure path to safety means they won’t be forced to take dangerous boat journeys. We must urgently boost our efforts to safely bring people to Australia and give them sanctuary, as the Fraser government did after the Vietnam War. The Greens are standing up for the vulnerable people in our region, and we understand that harsher treatment of refugees won’t stop them fleeing war. Offering a secure path to safety means they won’t be forced to take dangerous boat journeys. We must urgently boost our efforts to safely bring people to Australia and give them sanctuary, as the Fraser government did after the Vietnam War. 
The government’s own Houston Panel recommended that Australia urgently resettle 3,800 refugees from Indonesia, giving them a safer option than a dangerous boat journey. The glaring lack of action on this from the government, compared to their eagerness to be cruel to refugees, is an indictment and brings their motivations into question.The government’s own Houston Panel recommended that Australia urgently resettle 3,800 refugees from Indonesia, giving them a safer option than a dangerous boat journey. The glaring lack of action on this from the government, compared to their eagerness to be cruel to refugees, is an indictment and brings their motivations into question.
Abbott’s hysterical references to the government "surrendering" on border security and a "quiet invasion" of boat people tell us a lot about his motivations.Abbott’s hysterical references to the government "surrendering" on border security and a "quiet invasion" of boat people tell us a lot about his motivations.
Earlier I mentioned the former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser and his humanitarian response to the refugee crisis that followed the Vietnam War. He said that politicians who whip up fear and hatred because people are coming from overseas can only be doing so for two reasons; first, that they genuinely think we have something to fear if people from different cultures come to Australia, or second, that they are doing because they think it will help them to win votes. In both cases they shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the Australian parliament, he said.Earlier I mentioned the former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser and his humanitarian response to the refugee crisis that followed the Vietnam War. He said that politicians who whip up fear and hatred because people are coming from overseas can only be doing so for two reasons; first, that they genuinely think we have something to fear if people from different cultures come to Australia, or second, that they are doing because they think it will help them to win votes. In both cases they shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the Australian parliament, he said.
Jon Stanhope, the administrator of Christmas Island, said today that we need to see more humanity in Australia’s refugee debate. I couldn’t agree more. It is essential for us to remember that refugees are human beings, not numbers to be argued over for cheap political gain. Jon Stanhope, the administrator of Christmas Island, said today that we need to see more humanity in Australia’s refugee debate. I couldn’t agree more. It is essential for us to remember that refugees are human beings, not numbers to be argued over for cheap political gain. 
The government has indicated that they will be announcing new refugee policies in the coming days. The early signs are that this will be another disgraceful lurch to the right in Labor’s race to the bottom with Abbott. At best, the current obsession with beating up on refugees is a misguided attempt to save lives at sea. At worst, it is a coldly calculated dog whistle that is shaping some of the worst aspects of Australian society while playing a tune they will dutifully follow. The government has indicated that they will be announcing new refugee policies in the coming days. The early signs are that this will be another disgraceful lurch to the right in Labor’s race to the bottom with Abbott. At best, the current obsession with beating up on refugees is a misguided attempt to save lives at sea. At worst, it is a coldly calculated dog whistle that is shaping some of the worst aspects of Australian society while playing a tune they will dutifully follow. 
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