The Senate will soon be required to vote on a Migration Amendment Bill after the Bill passed through the House of Representatives at 1pm today.
We can only hope that Liberal Senators will follow their colleagues in the House Judy Moylan, Petro Georgiou and Russell Broadbent who crossed the floor on the principle of the matter.
This Bill has the effect of forcing the detention and processing of asylum seekers offshore on islands such as Nauru, regardless of where they land.
The vote on this Bill represents a serious test of the credibility and values of members of the Howard Government. It is a test Senators like Gary Humphries will fail if he supports this Bill. It will be proof he and others have abandoned principles they claim to have held twelve months ago!
These principles meant that: children would not be detained, people would not be detained indefinitely, and people should not pay the price of their sanity because of their mental health conditions.
The Howard Government’s ruthless treatment of vulnerable people exposes the weak character of the Prime Minister and Coalition members. How can they agree that it is wrong to detain children in Australia, yet turn a blind eye and facilitate this on Nauru?
I, and the Labor party, will continue to fight for these principles. If people flee persecution then from the moment they arrive in Australian hands, this persecution should end.
Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334
