Refugee Issue Hot Topic for Australian Election

Amnesty International has renewed its push for fair treatment of asylum seekers just days before a federal election in Australia.

Amnesty says Australia holds one of the worst records among the developed nations in the way it treated asylum seekers.

[Dr. Graham Thom, National Refugee Coordinator, Amnesty Int'l.]:
"Amnesty International expects any incoming government to treat all asylum seekers equally whether they arrive by air or by boat... They shouldn't be taken to remote detention centers, we shouldn't be locking up children, we should be treating all refugees and asylum seekers in line with our international obligations and we should be providing protection to those who prove they are genuine refugees."

When asylum seekers arrive in Australia illegally by boat, they are kept in detention centers until their claims are processed.

One family from Afghanistan was kept in a detention center until they were granted refugee status.

[Najeeba Wazefadost, Refugee]:
"Those people, those refugees that are risking their lives to come through that big Pacific Ocean is not just for fun or just not to come and see these buildings. I am sure their lives are at risk. I am sure that their lives have been at risk, that they have to go through that big major risk of coming through that big ocean and risking their lives. Otherwise they wouldn't have done that."

Experts say the issue is a hot topic for the upcoming election.

[Penelope Mathew, Professor, Australian National University]:
"It is I think a distraction because it makes it look as though politicians doing something good for Australian citizens, you know, we are keeping you safe, we are controlling borders."

The coalition's leader, Tony Abbott, wants to reopen a detention center in the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru.

Last month, Prime Minister Julia Gillard unveiled a new policy aimed at calming voter fears about rising numbers of asylum seekers, which includes a possible East Timor processing center.

Currently, there are over 4,200 unauthorized arrivals being held in detention in Australia.

Category:

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• Julia Gillard
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• Australia
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• develop
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• obligation

[Irishrogue61mak3]

It aint immigration. IT'S INVASION..!!

Sink all their boats... and the muslim vermin in them.

[azamatmankini]

@MsTsarbomba

Wait until the carbon tax comes in and then the newspapers, talkback radio, the main TV news will be filled with people who have just realised how fucked the country is because of Gillard annd a poofter called Bob Brown.

Everything ( goods and services) in this country is going to go up.

[MsTsarbomba]

@azamatmankini We havent seen anything yet. This country is fucking finished and more worried about beer than anything else. This country is fucking finished

[azamatmankini]

@MsTsarbomba

I agree with you 100%

The people who voted for Labor are fuck wits. The people who voted the greens, should be executed. The Muslim boat people turn up because the Australian Government is pathetic and there seems lots of dickheads who don't understand that these Muslim-filth- boat people, have no intentions of integration in a western country. Muslims expect the western country to change to suit Islamic rights.

I say, fuck Islam! I piss on the face of Mahommad!

[khudaaaaya]

ziad khub bud.. but mardum azmo bayad zyadtar koshesh kana ta ..............

[MsTsarbomba]

Fuck The New World Order Australia is a fucking Dickhead for voting Julia and deserves to burn

[sam888ization]

@bommmmmmmm, Australia is big and plenty of land..but you are obviously ill-informed that 80% of it are arid and there is no water. Do you know how much would it cost to build a new road, water pipes, electricity, schools, homes and businesses? The government must keep on building infrastructure and new cities to cover for Australia population ... the reason they are trying to limit the people who come here. It cost so much taxpayers money to house the so called asylum seekers.

[frasatat2]

@bommmmmmmm fuck off, its our country now, u come & take it off us if u can

[figbat1]

i dont get it juliar. the nauru solution was working perfectly....then you come into power and dismantle it......and the boats start coming again and it has turned into a schmozzle. now you're saying it is the liberals fault because they wouldnt agree to your c r a p malaysian solution.

GILLARD.......YOU'RE F U C K I N G HOPELESS!

[figbat1]

hallelujah!