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THE Labor Left has declined to criticise Australia's refugee swap with Malaysia, as left-leaning activist group GetUp! ruled out a campaign against the deal.
Amid revelations that the words “human rights” are absent from a draft agreement, Left faction leader Stephen Jones said it was too early to pass judgment on the deal's humanitarian outcomes.
The draft deal would also allow unaccompanied minors to be sent to Malaysia - which canes asylum-seekers - and give the country a right of veto on which asylum-seekers it takes.
What a mess. In the interview with Tony Jones on Lateline last night, Chris Bowen was extremely flustered - understandably, given how silly the government are now looking over this deal which is generating criticism from all sides.
They still have the Nauru option sitting there waiting. That they can, purely for what they perceive to be political disadvantage, refuse to adopt this, especially in the light of Malaysia's unacceptable conditions, is just incredible.
Julia, I also watched that interview. Chris Uhllman had certainly done his homework and had the obnoxiuos Bowen tied up in knots.
The Labor Party will not use Nauru because it was a coalition initiative, which, as we all know was successful.To now use Nauru, Gillard knows it would bring about huge criticism against her parties failed policies.
Marion Le, a refugee lawyer, last night urged Labor to reopen the Nauru processing centre - the same facility she demanded be shut in 2005 because of concern about the treatment of asylum-seekers.
She was backed by human rights lawyer Julian Burnside, who accused Labor of failure on refugees and said asylum-seekers would receive better treatment in Nauru than Malaysia.
The UN refugee agency has dealt a blow to the Government's hopes of finalising a refugee swap deal with Malaysia, refusing to support it without changes.
The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) says it was not informed in advance that the agreement would include unaccompanied children.
Head of the Washington office, Vincent Cochetel, has told the ABC he is concerned Australia could be in breach of its obligations under the international Refugee Convention.
More calls for the Pacific Solution from refugee activists. But, as I said in my last post, would Gillard and Bowen actually use something that has been proven to work, or will they have to add their own potentially disasterous twist so they can say "it's not the same"? Only time will tell...
Full article from the Australian by Matthew Franklin and Lanai Vasek:
Labor urged to revive Pacific Solution by refugee activists
TAXPAYERS are facing multimillion-dollar compensation payouts to current and former asylum seekers who claim they have suffered trauma and psychological damage while in detention.
Legal and medical sources said scores of detainees were preparing claims against the Federal Government and detention centre operators Serco and G4S.
Among those making claims are Iranian asylum seeker Mehrnoosh Yousefi and her adult son, who have been granted refugee status.
Mrs Yousefi's husband, former Iranian oil industry engineer Parviz Yousefi, achieved notoriety when he sewed his lips together and attempted suicide several times while in detention at Woomera between 2001 and 2004.
In 2008, Mr Yousefi was reportedly awarded a record damages payout of more than $800,000 for psychological damage suffered in detention.
It beats working for a living.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...age-in-detention/story-e6freooo-1226069739639
Incredible. But if our laws allow them to do this, I suppose you can't blame them for getting whatever they can.
Change the law, fergawdsake!
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