Statements
Rural Australians call for kids off Nauru
| The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will join Marie Sellstrom, national president of Rural Australians for Refugees, to call for an immediate end to offshore detention and for the evacuation to Australia of all children and their families on Nauru.
WHEN: 11:00am TODAY 16 October WHERE: Senate Courtyard, Parliament House CANBERRA “Australia has a legal and moral obligation to give protection to people fleeing persecution,” Mr Wilkie said. “Locking up asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus is entirely at odds with this. It’s also illegal in international law and deeply immoral. “It’s outrageous that there have been countless children now on Nauru who have been desperately sick, and the Government has refused to bring them to Australia. It’s been left to the Federal Court to intervene. “Even right now there’s an estimated 30 children trapped on Nauru who need urgent medical attention. Australia has a duty of care to these people and we must act like the rich and fortunate country that we are and bring them here immediately. “The Labor Party also need to change their policy and stop walking in lockstep with the Liberals on this issue. To that end I call on all parties to support my Refugee Protection Bill, which would provide for a humane, ethical and legal regional solution to the refugee crisis. “I commend Marie and Rural Australians for Refugees for their compassion and tireless advocacy.” Rural Australians for Refugees will host a rally at 12:00pm today in front of Parliament House.
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