The Refugee Action Coalition has condemned Kevin Rudd’s anticipated announcement to expand the Manus Island detention centre.
“This is another move by the Labor administration to avoid Australia’s obligation to provide protection for asylum seekers. It is more about domestic politicking for the upcoming election than providing permanent security for asylum seekers,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Manus Island can’t even provide proper facilities for 200 asylum seekers, let alone 3000. Asylum seekers are routinely flown to Australia for medical treatment because there are no proper facilities on Manus Island or even in Port Moresby.
“PNG is singularly ill-equipped to accommodate, process and resettle 3000 asylum seekers. Manus Island has been open for eight months and there has not been one refugee determination interview.
“It’s a continuation of the poisoned politics of deterrence that has characterised Labor’s competition with the Liberals to be tough on asylum seekers. Like Rudd’s ‘Indonesia solution’ and Julia Gillard’s ‘East Timor solution’, the ‘PNG solution’ is no solution at all. Effectively bribing the PNG government to accommodate a massive detention centre has no part in a humanitarian policy.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
