1 June 2006
ASYLUM SEEKER CAMPAIGN REACHES CRITICAL STAGE
The campaign to oppose the proposed laws to process all future asylum seeker claims offshore has reached a critical stage with legislation about to be introduced to the Australian parliament.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has added its voice to the campaign in a letter to the Prime Minister John Howard urging him to drop the proposed laws.
According to Bishop Joe Grech, the spokesman for the Bishops,
"The letter expresses our concern about the decision to process refugee claims of boat people at detention centres beyond Australian shores, where they will have no access to proper legal advice or the human support they need".
"We are especially concerned that women and children may again be held in detention for an unspecified amount of time."
If the government proceeds with its legislation despite the stated opposition of some government members it is likely to be passed in the House of Representatives where the government enjoys a comfortable majority. However with only a slender majority in the upper house it requires only one government senator to vote against the legislation to defeat the bill (assuming members of the opposition, the minor parties and independents vote against it)
For this reason Polmin has urged its members and supporters to contact their state Senators, especially government senators, some of whom who have expressed disquiet over its provisions, urging them to oppose the bill.
Online assistance with letter-writing to Senators can also be found at the A Just Australia and the Amnesty International (Australia) websites.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has added its voice to the campaign in a letter to the Prime Minister John Howard urging him to drop the proposed laws.
According to Bishop Joe Grech, the spokesman for the Bishops,
"The letter expresses our concern about the decision to process refugee claims of boat people at detention centres beyond Australian shores, where they will have no access to proper legal advice or the human support they need".
"We are especially concerned that women and children may again be held in detention for an unspecified amount of time."
If the government proceeds with its legislation despite the stated opposition of some government members it is likely to be passed in the House of Representatives where the government enjoys a comfortable majority. However with only a slender majority in the upper house it requires only one government senator to vote against the legislation to defeat the bill (assuming members of the opposition, the minor parties and independents vote against it)
For this reason Polmin has urged its members and supporters to contact their state Senators, especially government senators, some of whom who have expressed disquiet over its provisions, urging them to oppose the bill.
Online assistance with letter-writing to Senators can also be found at the A Just Australia and the Amnesty International (Australia) websites.
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