Australia Cross Disablity Alliance Says #Letthemstay

The Australian Cross Disability Alliance urges the Australian Government to allow the asylum seeker children and families, currently facing removal back to offshore immigration detention centres, to stay in Australia.

The Alliance also endorses the position of the coalition of ACOSS, Australian Council for International Development, Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services, Mission Australia, Oxfam Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, Save the Children, and World Vision to oppose offshore processing, and immediately move to process the outstanding applications of asylum seekers and provide safe haven here in Australia.

"We cannot support the situation where children and adults are being put in an enviroment that will create and intensify harm, and cause impairment," said Suresh Rajan, President of the National Ethnic Disability Alliance.

"These policies of mandatory dentention have been found by the Human Rights Commission to cause immense damage to people seeking asylum. Health care professionals have also raised serious concerns about the ongoing wellbeing of people at Nauru and Manus Island."

"Some of the people seeking our help have significant disabilities and we need to provide them with the appropriate supports,” said Damian Griffis, the Chief Executive Officer of the First Peoples Disability Network.

"Allowing these asylum seekers, some of whom were born in Australia, to stay, is consistent with our human rights obligations," said Mr Griffis .

"Australia has the capacity and responsibility to provide a safe haven and to immediately process all asylum seeker applications. These people have come to us for help and refuge, and we need to let them stay. I congratulate the community which has rallied around Australia, and at hospitals, in support of these asylum seekers," said Mr Rajan.

ENDS

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