The Labor Government is slashing the number of refugees able to rebuild their life in Australia by a third as part of sweeping changes targeted against migrants according to reports out today.
At a time when other nations, notably the US, has shut the door to refugees this is a severe blow to the post-World War II international architecture to protect people seeking asylum from war and oppression.
Before this cut Australia’s current refugee intake of 20,000 was still well bellow the 27,000 Labor promised when it was elected. Reports now indicate that they are planning to slash it 13,750, the same level as the Morrison Government.
There are also further reports of harsh conditions being placed on family visas too, such as preventing people onshore applying for a visa. If these changes go ahead it will fundamentally break the social fabric that supports a multicultural society.
There is further concern that the Albanese Labor Government will prevent people seeking asylum from having the right to work while waiting for their application to be processed, this would be catastrophic. People seeking asylum did not choose to wait for years to have their visa processed, that is a resourcing decision inside Home Affairs by the Labor Government.
Punishing migrants and people seeking asylum for the actions of the Government seems to be the fundamental ideology of Labor and One Nation.
Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Immigration, said:
“Instead of standing against One Nation, Labor has chosen to stand beside them. When it comes to immigration there is almost no daylight between One Nation and Labor.
“The difference between One Nation and Labor is that, when One Nation attacks refugees, they don’t then pat themselves on the back for how much they support multiculturalism.
“People have a right to seek asylum to save their lives, and they are often fleeing wars that the Australian Government has supported and fueled.
“The Australian Government was a part of the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, has supported endless wars in Iran and Palestine, and profited from weapons sales into these wars as part of US supply lines. This was often justified by the Government as saving or liberating the people in those countries, we now see how hollow that is, as Labor slams the door in their face.
“Lets put this in perspective, the total number of visas Australia provides to refugees each year doesn’t even fill one fifth of the seats at the MCG. In a country the size of Australia this is a very modest number of people, and anyone trying to say otherwise is just scapegoating people with a different colour skin.
“This is Minister Tony Burke doing his best One Nation impression despite representing one of the most diverse and multicultural seats in the country.
“It is clear that even Labor members do not support these changes, having just affirmed a policy to increase the refugee intake, but again the Albanese Labor Government has chosen One Nation over its own rank-and-file.
“Most Australians want a fair migration system where people are able to build a full life here.
“Caring about people fleeing some of the worst conditions on earth is something most Australians want, instead we get this toxic politics that makes our country meaner and weaker.”
