West Australian MP Judi Moylan says a public campaign is the only way to stop the Federal government from passing 'regressive' asylum seeker laws.
Parliament is considering legislation that would mean asylum seekers who arrived on the mainland could be sent to offshore processing.
Under the policy arrangements announced by Immigration Minister Chris Bowen last week, all asylum seekers will be denied permanent protection visas for up to five years even if they are found to be genuine refugees and regardless of whether their claims are processed in Australia, Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
Speaking to SBS World News Australia Radio, she said she can't see any change happening in political environment.
“It's very difficult when both sides of the political spectrum are intent on a race to the bottom, as I see it, to the policy bag. And I think now, nothing short of a public campaign saying this is just unacceptable is going to create any change.”
Ms Moylan is one of just a few MPs who have spoken out against policies which they regard as harsh and ineffective. These include offshore processing and restricted visas.
According to Ms Moylan, the members who wish to have a more moderate approach to the issue are completely outnumbered and she's calling on Australians to put pressure on politicians to address the issue.
“I think sometimes the public doesn't understand the power they have to make their views known to their member of parliament, their local member of parliament and to the ministers who are responsible for making the decisions in this place”.
She says Australia also has a moral obligation to treat asylum seekers fairly.
“I would suggest there are probably moral obligations that we are not meeting as well by taking that course of action to sort of warehouse people in another country because we don't want to deal with the problem.”
“I don't know why we can't have a decent and comprehensive policy approach to this that treats people as a priority that treats people humanely, that puts at the centre of the policy making the perseveration of human life and human dignity.”
Share
