Statements
Asylum seeker law cruel, unnecessary and unreasonable
I will oppose the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016, which would prevent asylum seekers and refugees who arrive by boat from ever entering Australia. The Bill is cruel and inhumane, completely unnecessary, and goes way beyond any reasonable measure to protect Australia’s borders.
I will move an amendment to the second reading of the Bill which calls on the Government to abandon its abhorrent policy on asylum seekers and instead put in place a genuinely regional solution that is humane, fair and consistent with international obligations. A copy of my amendment is attached.
I will continue to speak out against Australia’s asylum seeker policy including by pursuing my request for the International Criminal Court to investigate the Australian Government for crimes against humanity.
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison