“Detain, Deter, Deny” were the infamous slogans that described Australia’s refugee policy under the equally infamous leadership of John Howard and Philip Ruddock.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s announcement that Australia will impose a six-month ban on entry from Iran temporary tourist visa holders is a shameful continuation of a “deter and deny” policy.
It is a far cry from Bob Hawke’s granting asylum to thousands of Chinese in Australia when the Tiananmen Square massacre took place in 1989.
The Labor government is deliberately denying the possibility of asylum to people who might desperately need it. It is a repeat of the Australian governments’ refusal to process Iraqi refugee claims in 2003 because the US invasion was going to bring democracy.
“Labor’s ‘control determination order’ is callous in the extreme,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “And it continues Labor’s efforts to undermine human rights of asylum seekers and the refugee convention.”
Like Donald Trump deporting Iranians back to Iran late last year, the Australian government attempted to remove an Afghan asylum seeker to Iran just before the US bombing started. One Iranian mother of an Australian citizen was turned around at the Brisbane airport just before the bombing because Border Force deemed her an asylum risk.
“Deport” could be now added to “”Detain, Deny, Deter” since the government has given itself powers to remove refugees and other non-citizens to what is effectively indefinite detention on Nauru.
“There are around 82 of Iranians in Australian detention. They should all be released. Hundreds of Iranian asylum seekers are also in Indonesia trapped by Australia’s 2014 ban on accepting refugees from Indonesia. They should all be brought to Australia, as should the Iranians still being held in PNG,” said Rintoul.
“Iranians who were brought to Australia after being detained on Manus and Nauru in 2013 are still being denied permanent visas. Once again an Australian is denying asylum to the refugees being created by a war that the government is supporting.”
A “No to War, No to the Trump Agenda, welcome migrants and refugees”, Palm Sunday rally, will be held this Sunday 29 March, 2pm, Belmore Park.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
