Tony Abbott has today shown he can’t accept reality and is stuck in the past by maintaining his dogma which breaches international law and punishes people rather than protects them, the Australian Greens said.
“Mr Abbott keeps bleating his mantra about turning back boats and reinstating temporary protection visas, despite knowing full well their ramifications,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said.
“The navy says it will not turn boats around because it is well aware of Australia’s responsibilities under international maritime law.
“Trying to turn boats around puts the lives of our navy personnel at risk, as history has shown. Navy personnel who served during the Howard years have spoken of the trauma they sustained after carrying out the government’s policy.
“Indonesia says it is very concerned by the proposal, which indicates any future Coalition government should not expect regional cooperation against people smugglers involving our near neighbour.
“Reimposing TPVs will again force women and children onto leaky boats to reach their husbands and fathers, as happened when the SIEV X sank in October 2001 under the Howard government, claiming 353 lives.
“Asylum seekers arriving in Australia is a humanitarian issue, not a ‘crisis’ as Mr Abbott would like people to believe. Relatively very few people seek Australia’s protection compared to other countries, as the UNHCR has repeatedly said.
“Mr Abbott has again shown Australians he’s not cut out to lead the country by sticking to illegal and immoral policies.
“The Greens will never back any proposal to reopen detention facilities on Nauru or anywhere else.”
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