As the Australian Greens announce a new plan for refugees, there is a growing call from Hobart to get kids out of detention.
Anna Reynolds, Greens candidate for Denison, has been running an online petition to the Federal Immigration Minister calling for a pilot program with the Australian Homestay Network in Hobart,
https://www.facebook.com/AHNHomestay?directed_target_id=0
… to move young asylum seekers from Pontville into our community.
“More than a thousand people have signed the petition in less than a week,” Anna Reynolds said.
“With the Hobart community showing their support by signing this petition, lots of conversations are happening about how to get this pilot Homestay program started.”
“The next step is to bring some of the key agencies together, and I’m working with the State Greens Minister, Cassy O’Connor, to make this happen,” said Ms Reynolds.
The work of the Greens in Tasmania comes as Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne launches a plan to increase the government’s humanitarian intake to 30,000 a year, providing an extra $70 million a year in emergency funding to fast-track the processing of refugee claims in Indonesia, and shutting down all detention camps in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
A new poll shows that 48% of voters nationwide don’t trust Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott to put caring for refugees ahead of political interest.
“The majority of Australians recognise that Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott cannot be trusted to care for refugees,” Ms Reynolds said.
“The Greens work to promote homestay options for kids in detention is part of this more caring and practical approach to refugees.” Ms Reynolds said.
The online petition is available at http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/kids-out-of-detention-and-into-hobart-homes
Anna Reynolds, Greens candidate for Denison
