ASC warns against Burke Press Club legislation proposals 

Rights of people seeking safety must not be compromised: ASC warns against Burke Press Club legislation proposals 

Commenting on Tony Burke’s speech to the National Press Club and the prospect of future legislation that could impact the rights of people seeking asylum in Australia, Elijah Buol, CEO of the Asylum Seekers Centre said:

“The rights of people seeking asylum should not be collateral damage in Labor’s attempt to bring down the net migration figure and appease One Nation. 

Like many migrant cohorts, people seeking asylum share the same dream of being welcomed into the ‘Great Australian Orchestra’, to use Minister Burke’s phrase.

Any future legislation that would remove work rights from people seeking asylum would have a devastating social impact and would lead to a rise in poverty, destitution, homelessness and even modern slavery amongst those who have come to Australia fleeing war and persecution. 

Meanwhile, measures that have been trailed in the media that would hamper the appeal rights of people seeking asylum or prevent some people in Australia from seeking safety after a certain period of time, would seriously threaten the integrity of Australia’s onshore protection program.

Any legislation that the Minister seeks to pass following today’s speech must not come at a cost to the rights of people seeking asylum. It is time to take the heat out of Australia’s migration debate and stop treating the lives of those who have fled to this country from unimaginable danger as political footballs.”

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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

Mark Johnson | [email protected]