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Cruel return to discredited Howard policies if Houston policies implemented

August 13, 2012

The Refugee Action Coalition has strongly condemned the Houston panel’s recommendations for offshore processing as made public at their press conference this afternoon. ‘Mr Houston and his colleagues had an opportunity to listen to the experts, escape the major parties’ persecution of refugees and inject reason into the asylum seeker debate,’ said Nick Riemer, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. ‘But the panel has made no recommendation that will improve the situation for refugees who have no other choice than…

Greens position on asylum seekers explained

August 3, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne, Greens Immigration and Human Rights spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Pamela Curr, campaign coordinator at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre held a press conference in Melbourne Thursday to launch a new video featuring Afghan refugee Najeeba Wazefadost. They commented on the Greens’ and the refugee sector’s push for safer pathways for refugees ahead of the Expert Panel handing down their recommendations next week, and called on the government to compromise on their…

Deported Tamil asylum seeker interrogated for 16 hours then released but still in danger

July 27, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

Distraught family members of deported Tamil asylum seeker Mr Dayan Anthony have finally been reunited with him. Anthony was deported on July 25. Anthony was interrogated for 16 hours after being handed over to the Sri Lankan police intelligence unit (CID) at Colombo airport. During this time, the Sri Lankan police refused to give the family any information. In a scene reminiscent of hostage dramas when hostages are paraded before camera and forced to say the words of their captors,…

Coalition policy on asylum is all politics with no responsibility

July 11, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

Tony Abbott’s refusal to participate in the Multi-Party Reference Group shows the Coalition has no intention of saving lives, the Australian Greens said today. “Tony Abbott has no intention of helping refugees, but is only interested in continuing to play politics with the lives of these vulnerable people, even at the expense of our own navy officers’ safety” said Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today. “The Coalition’s policy of turning back boats and taking away their fuel shows they…

A globally responsible solution for displaced refugees

July 10, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

Statement from RISE (Refugees, Survivors & Ex-Detainees) – 26 June 2012 Australia’s policy on refugees continues to be driven by the personal ambitions of politicians in government and opposition who have demonstrated a lack of respect for Australia’s stature as a standard bearer of international laws in the Asia pacific region and a lack of concern for lives of communities that are displaced by war and conflict. Seeking protection from fear and persecution is not a luxury, it is a…