Commitments made by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Obama Summit in New York last night are far from enough when it comes to stepping up and helping the world’s most vulnerable people.
Responding to Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement last night that Australia’s humanitarian intake will remain at 18,750, Ming Yu Hah, Refugee Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia said:
“Let’s be clear about this, very little of what the Australian Government has announced is new.”
“Let’s be clear about this, very little of what the Australian Government has announced is new.”
Ming Yu Hah, Refugee Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia
“Of course we welcome making permanent a move that allows more people to settle in safety and rebuild their lives, however, this was a critical opportunity for change, and the Australian Government has shirked its fair share of responsibility at a time of record global displacement.
“To ensure the 1.2 million most vulnerable refugees are cared for, the Australian Government should have committed to an annual minimum of 30,000 people.
“The Government should have been looking at how much, not how little, Australia can do to help people who need urgent protection.”
“The Government should have been looking at how much, not how little, Australia can do to help people who need urgent protection.”
Ming Yu Hah
Amnesty International strongly criticises the Australian Government for failing to use this opportunity to commit to immediately transferring people from Nauru and Manus Island and bringing them to Australia for processing and settlement.
“What Prime Minister Turnbull failed to explain at the summit is that the Australian Government’s current approach to border protection depends on the intentional abuse of thousands of men, women and children.”
“The fact that Prime Minister Turnbull again stood on the world stage championing a deliberate system of cruel treatment for thousands of refugees rather than committing to bringing them to safety, is shameful,” said Ming Yu Hah.
