Stop offshore detention: Labor senator

Labor senator Lisa Singh has spoken out about asylum seeker policy, breaking ranks with her party to deplore offshore detention.

Labor Senator Lisa Singh (AAP)

Labor Senator Lisa Singh (AAP) Source: AAP

A Labor frontbencher has broken party ranks and called for the end to the ongoing detention of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island.

Lisa Singh, who has been relegated to the fourth and unwinnable spot on Tasmanian Labor's Senate ticket at the next election, said a new conversation was needed about refugee policy in Australia.

"I really think that the ongoing mandatory indefinite detention of people on Manus Island and Nauru has to stop," she told ABC TV's Q&A on Monday night, describing it as inhumane.

Colleague Terri Butler says Labor does not support indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

It backed good processes that allowed refugee claims to be settled as quickly as possibly so people could be released.

"No one wants to see an inhumane detention system," she told reporters in Canberra.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world