Protect Our Borders and Our Values at the Same Time

30 October 2007

Protect Our Borders and Our Values at the Same Time

A Just Australia, today launched its campaign for just and fair refugee policies, including a major party policy analysis, a ten-step plan to clean up Australia's refugee policies and a values guarantee for politicians similar to that now demanded of new Australian citizens.

The policy analysis reviews each major party's policies against AJA's 10-point plan to 'Clean Up' Australia's Migration Act. The Democrats and Greens do best, followed closely by the Australian Labor Party. The analysis shows the Coalition has very limited support for only two of AJA's policies for the fair and just treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

"There is still time for the Coalition. The Prime Minister said recently that he got it wrong on reconciliation so there is still time to admit they have been wrong on refugees and sign up to our 10 point plan," National Co-ordinator, Kate Gauthier.

AJA's 10-point plant includes measures to ensure:
· That children can't be held in detention;
· An end to the Federal Government waste of $1billion on the Pacific Solution and offshore detention
· Humane reception and detention centres

"Australians might be surprised to know that children are still held in detention under our laws. Our policies would ensure this could never happen again," Ms Gauthier said.

"Our 10-point plan shows you can protect our borders and our values at the same time," she said.

Ms Gauthier said AJA received strong support across the political spectrum and the release of the analysis gave voters the information they needed if they wanted to vote to support a fairer policy.

A Just Australia has put election candidates to an integrity test to see whether they are willing to commit to putting fundamental Australian values into practice as a politician. There has been a strong response from Labor, Democrats and the Greens, but only one response from a Liberal Candidate.

"There has been a lot said by Australian politicians about 'Australian values' in recent years, but little has been done to put them into practice, particularly when it comes to the way we treat refugees and asylum seekers," Kate Gauthier said.

"What some politicians have failed to grasp is that the values politicians want Australians to live by are the very same values that Australians want their politicians to live by."

"We believe that current asylum seeker policies break fundamental Australian values such as 'a fair-go' and 'compassion towards those in need.'"

Under new laws, everyone who wants to visit Australia has to sign a values guarantee and new citizens must pass a test which emphasises values such as "tolerance and compassion for those in need."

However, members of the same Government who put forward these laws, refuse to sign up to a similar values statement about their own activities as politicians. At the same time, as of early this month, a new Government policy forces all visa applicants to sign an Australian values statement.

"We think it's hypocritical that the current Government has forced others to sign up to values statements and then turns around and refuses to sign a values guarantee themselves." Kate Gauthier said.


For media comment:
Kate Gauthier 0414 876 139

For details of the values guarantee and party policy analysis, please see www.ajustaustralia.com