NZ should welcome Melbourne Court decision
Wednesday, 12 September 2001, 9:14 am
Press Release: Green Party
11 September 2001
New Zealand should welcome Melbourne
Court decision on Afghans
Green Party Immigration
spokesperson Keith Locke has welcomed a Melbourne judge's
direction to land the asylum seekers from the Tampa on
Australian territory.
"It is much better for them to be
processed in Australia than on the tiny island of Nauru,"
said Mr Locke.
"The court decision is a victory for common
decency."
Mr Locke said that Australia's rejection of the
refugees had set a dangerous precedent.
"Passing ships
would be less likely to rescue boat people if they thought
their ship was in for the same hassle as the Tampa.
"We
should support the court decision as giving the 433 asylum
seekers the right to settle in Australia if they get through
the assessment process," he said.
"We should still keep
our offer open to settle 150 Afghans here.
"There might
actually be a neat solution. The 433 asylum seekers are
given the chance to settle in Australia, while the 237 other
refugees on the troopship Manoora are allowed to come to
Auckland for processing," said Mr Locke.
ENDS
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