Former Australian PM Criticises Immigration Policy

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has joined in the refugee debate by using National Refugee Week to call for a more compassionate Australia.

As the refugee argument rages on in the lead-up to a general election, Mr Fraser has attacked both political parties for using refugees to win votes: “I believe playing politics with the lives of vulnerable people, seeking votes out of their misfortune, is about the worst thing any politician can do in any country in any part of the world.”

Malcolm Fraser attacks government policy on refugees.

Mr Fraser was speaking at a special event to mark Refugee Week, which sees a series of events held all over Australia to celebrate the achievements refugees have brought to Australia and to highlight the struggle they still face. Mr Fraser says that part of that struggle is as a direct result of the Australian government’s failure to provide a solid humanitarian refugee policy agenda.

“[The Government] softened some of the worst edges of the Pacific Solution, but since then it has not defended the need, the ethical policy to be helpful [and] humane.” He said.

Rudd’s government has recently tightened the refugee criteria for applicants and have announced that no new applications from Afghanistan or Sri Lanka would be considered, a move that was slammed by Amnesty International who accused the government of placing political self-interest before the human rights of refugees. The Opposition have revealed their support for a return to off-shore processing for all refugees.

One such off-shore processing centre is Christmas Island which was visited by Amnesty International back in December 2009. They discovered that children were still being detained in these detention facilities despite promises from the government that children would only be detained on the island as a last resort – some of the children had been there for months. Amnesty also discovered overcrowded conditions that put a huge strain on the islands infrastructure. They accused the government then of punishing those refugees who arrived by boat instead of by plane – for it is only asylum seekers who arrive by boat that face being detained in off-shore processing centres.

Mr Fraser also touched on the subject of discrimination against boat people by implying that those arriving by boat were more likely to be legitimate refugees than those who arrive by air. Mr Fraser has called for a bipartisan approach to the situation and an end to what he calls a “demeaning debate”.

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