Labor and Liberal MPs voting together to retrospectively validate the unlawful detention of up to 1600 people seeking asylum confirms that business as usual has resumed, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This is the Labor and Liberal parties trying to rewrite history because their detention of up to 1600 people seeking asylum was based on a legal fiction,” Senator McKim said.

“Bipartisan support for the Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018 resumes the cosy arrangement of arbitrary cruelty towards refugees and people seeking asylum.”

Fraser Anning’s vile comments in the Senate today were absolutely beyond the pale. If he has a shred of decency, he will immediately apologise. 
 
Referring to immigrants, particularly Muslim immigrants, with the same language that the Nazis used to discuss the extermination of Europe’s Jews during the Holocaust is vile, racist, bigoted and has no place in our society, let alone our Parliament. 
 

The Turnbull Government should stop punishing and demonising migrants if it wants to help people settle in Australia, Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Turnbull, Tudge and Dutton should put their money where their mouths are if they want to help migrants settle in Australia,” Senator McKim said.

“They have cut support for asylum seekers, tried to make citizenship more difficult, and consistently embraced the hateful agenda of One Nation.”

Five years of offshore detention is five years too long, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“There are many hundreds of people still suffering on Manus Island and Nauru because of Labor’s cowardice and the Liberals’ cruelty,” Senator McKim said.

“There are children who were born in offshore detention who have spent their whole lives in exile.”

“Labor locked them up, and the Liberals threw away the key.”

“How much longer must people suffer before the bipartisan cruelty of offshore detention is stopped?”

Comments from both Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese confirm Labor has abandoned all compassion on refugee policy, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This confirms Labor’s total capitulation and moral cowardice,” Senator McKim said.

“The figureheads of Labor’s left and right factions are now on a unity ticket with Peter Dutton and Pauline Hanson.”

“There are still hundreds of men, women and children languishing in indefinite offshore detention on Manus Island and Nauru, having been sent there by the Labor Party five years ago.”

The cuts to support for people seeking asylum in Australia are unconscionably cruel and designed to force people into poverty, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Cutting the status resolution support service will force people into poverty, homelessness and exploitative jobs,” Senator McKim said.

“Unfortunately, it is a continuation of Peter Dutton’s determination to punish migrants, particularly refugees and people seeking asylum.”

“To retrospectively punish people in this way is unconscionably cruel.”

Australia has much to lament this World Refugee Day, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“There are still hundreds of men, women and children trapped in detention on Manus Island and Nauru because of Labor and the Liberals’ cruel policies,“ Senator McKim said.

“Meanwhile, Australia’s refugee intake remains completely inadequate.”

“This government is also attacking refugees and people seeking asylum here in Australia by cutting financial support.”

The death of person who sought asylum in Australia but was exiled offshore for five years is a another bloody stain on Australia’s national conscience, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This is yet another life lost due to our country's cruel and inhumane refugee policies," Senator McKim said.

"This tragedy was entirely predictable, yet the Liberals and ALP remain in cruel policy lockstep.”

“Australia’s offshore detention system has been a humanitarian calamity and one of the darkest chapters in our country’s story.”

Labor’s refusal to even discuss a more humane approach to refugees shows the party leadership has learned nothing from five years of death and misery on Manus Island and Nauru, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Bill Shorten and the factional bosses have decided yet again to lock in behind Peter Dutton’s campaign of misery,” Senator McKim said.

“This is a crackdown on compassion and hugely disappointing to the millions of Australians who don’t support what is being done in their names.”