Migration bill passes, Howard government adds another dark victory to its tally
*Media Release
Thursday August 10, 2006
"In passing the most deplorable Migration Amendment Bill through the House of Representatives at 11am this morning, The
Howard government has added another dark victory to its deplorable tally of "achievements" since the Tampa legislation
set Australia on course for serious human rights breaches and the undermining of International Conventions," WA Rights
group Project SafeCom said this morning.
"In presenting the current Bill, the government has made it appear as if this policy restores the notion of equity
between those who make landfall on the mainland and those who only make it to any of the 4600 excised islands, and this
is a blatant example of its spin, smoke and mirrors; because the only just reference to the notion of equity is the fact
that the Bill creates indeed an equally unjust treatment - you'll get deported to Nauru - to both groups."
The Howard government's manipulation of the rightful status also of 'unannounced' refugees arriving by boat to
Australian shores is one thing; the drafting of this Bill which places refugees on a birdpoo island that knows no fresh
water or food, outside the scrutiny of Australian legal reviews and justice of our laws, as so clearly spelled out by
the Hon Judi Moylan in her speech on the Second Reading yesterday, makes John Howard personally responsible for
undermining the notion of Australia as a just country open to a "fair go for all", spokesman Jack H Smit said.
"Project SafeCom honours and congratulates the coalition members who crossed the floor, Mr Petro Georgiou, Hon Judi
Moylan and Mr Russell Broadbent. As they confidently and succinctly showed in their speeches, their choice on this issue
was not an anti-coalition rebellion, but a choice for open and accountable government also of people fleeing their
countries and asking for justice from Australia under the UN Convention."
"This Bill destroys any notion of justice for those seeking protection from persecution. We pray and hope that Senators
next week will realise, that nobody will ever be able to guarantee safety for men, women and children from mental damage
as a result of what remains unlawful imprisonment, or any other abuse that may befall them while on Nauru in Australian
detention."
ENDS