Activists scale Peter Dutton’s roof

Three Brisbane residents have mounted the roof of immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s Brisbane electorate office to protest the government’s new immigration laws. Activists Scarlett Squire, Kelly Purnell and Ellen Sargent scaled the roof at 7:30 this morning and unfurled an Australian flag covered in blood.

Under the new laws, any asylum seeker attempting to enter Australia by boat will be banned from ever entering the country.

Kelly said the proposed legislation is a cruel political strategy that is illegal under international law.

“The majority of people seeking asylum in Australia by boat are found to be genuine refugees.”

“This constitutes refoulement under international law since the government is placing genuine refugees at risk of persecution or serious harm.”

Scarlett described the government’s asylum seeker policies as hypocritical in light of Australia’s colonial past.

“This government forgets that they are the direct descendants and beneficiaries of the most violent boat arrivals in this continent’s history.”

“We are complicit in and initiate international conflicts which result in people becoming displaced. Having created the problem this government then persecutes the victims.”

The legislation will be retrospective from 2013 onwards, meaning it will affect people already detained in camps on Manus and Nauru Islands.

The government has also confirmed that the new laws will affect refugees currently living in Australia on Bridging Visas or in Community Detention.
WACA – Whistleblowers, Activists & Citizens Alliance