The Australian Greens have released costing details of their election policy on asylum seekers which will save taxpayers $3.2 billion over the next four years.
New costings from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) have revealed that allowing asylum seekers to live in the community and earn a living will result in significant savings of almost a billion dollars. Further savings will come from ending expensive offshore and remote detention.
Today’s announcement comes as Julian Burnside AO QC flies to Adelaide to endorse Immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and the Greens’ refugee policy.
“I am delighted that Julian Burnside, one of Australia’s most respected human rights and refugee advocates, is supporting Senator Hanson-Young and the Greens’ compassionate plan for refugees,” Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.
“Refugees have long been our nation’s chief political football, but this election we’ve hit new lows.
“In the race to cruelty, the old parties are wasting billions of dollars. Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are burning cash on harsh punishment for innocent and desperate people that could be spent on helping single parents out of poverty or supporting students at universities.
“Cruelty in the pursuit of power shames us all. It drags down our international standing. It demeans us as a people but I know Australians are better than this.
“That’s why the Greens are saying enough is enough and standing up for a better way. Our plan will put people before politics. We will care for refugees and save money in the process.
“I haven’t seen such an outpouring of shock, disgust and anger towards the atrocious, cruel and expensive policies of Labor and the Coalition since the Tampa crisis.”
The Greens’ immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said that economic savings were just one of the many advantages of the party’s refugee policy.
“Australia’s international reputation is being tarnished by the old parties and their obsession with cruelty,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“While the Labor Party wants to lock children up on Nauru and Tony Abbott wants to set fire to boats in Indonesia, the Greens are offering a considered, evidence based approach.
“Increasing funding to the UN in Indonesia, so that they can actually process people’s claims, and increasing our humanitarian intake would offer people a safer way to reach safety while caring for refugees.
“Australia’s generous heart is under attack from the old parties. If people want to see the Australia return to a humane and reasonable refugee policy they have only one choice; vote Green.” Senator Hanson-Young concluded.
The Greens policy would:
• Set 30 day time limit in onshore detention for health, security and ID checks, before allowing refugees to live in the community on bridging visas with work rights
• Close down offshore detention in Nauru and Papua New Guinea (PNG)
• Close down remote and expensive centres on mainland
• Increase Australia’s humanitarian intake to 30,000 people per year
The plan would takes effect 1st January 2014.
Download Greens’ policy document:
