Libs call for conscience vote on asylum seekers
Refugee advocates are optimistic about the prospects for two private members’ bills to be introduced to the federal parliament by Victorian Liberal Petro Georgiou – relaxing some aspects of the government policy on the detention of asylum seekers. At least three other backbenchers, say they will follow their conscience and support the bills, which call for all asylum seekers who have been detained for more than one year, and all detained children, and their parents, to be released by the government. Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats Andrew Bartlett welcomes the renewed focus on the plight of an estimated 68 children in detention. WA refugee advocate Kaye Bernard, the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Community in Australia Trung Doan, and the Refugee Council’s Margaret Piper support the Private Member’s Bills. While Coalition Frontbencher Dr Sharman Stone says she personally believes Australia should detain people who enter the country unlawfully.