We can do so much better on refugees

Source: The Age, 25/08/2018

Australians are shaking their heads. The nation just witnessed the
most surreal week in Australian political history �` one in which a
government was paralysed and a new prime minister anointed without
even mentioning public interest or policy. Many a Liberal hand is
bloodied by this internecine strife.
The machinations, born of Tony Abbott’s visceral anger at Malcolm
Turnbull, are yet another distraction from the need to focus on
policies. One, in particular, is the plight of refugees and asylum
seekers still languishing on Nauru and Manus Island as a result of
Australian government policy.
Detention centres on the islands were reopened in 2012 under the
Gillard Labor government after an Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers
proposed Australia restart offshore processing of asylum seekers
arriving by boat. The policy of mandatory offshore detention, however,
has led to needless deaths and unconscionable suffering. In the past
week, young children have had to be medically evacuated from Nauru to
Australia. But only the most critically ill cases are being addressed.
One report refers to an ‘‘uncontrollable ‘contagion’ of children
committing self-harm’’.
Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton argued in June that the
“single act of compassion of bringing 20 seriously-ill asylum seekers
to Australia from Manus Island and Nauru for medical treatment would
be seen by people smugglers as an open invitation to restart their trade.
However, given he Sunday Age report showing that the deterrent for
asylum seekers is having their boats turned back, any ‘‘single acts of
compassion’’ could not ‘‘undo overnight’’ the policy’s effectiveness,
as Mr Dutton claims. Showing humanity to those left in limbo would not
affect the people-smuggling trade while the turn-back policy remains
in force.
People living in limbo in Indonesia describe Australia’s borders as
‘‘closed’’ �` the turn-back policy has worked in this regard.
Today, we repeat our call on the Australian government to bring these
remaining people to Australia for proper processing and treatment.
Most are refugees.
Yes, it’s a complex issue. But Australia should coordinate, as a
regional leader, with our neighbours and the wider world to set up
methodical processing queues. Australia should also push relentlessly
for the deal with the US to take more than a thousand refugees.
As much as $5 billion has been spent on the experiment with Manus
Island and Nauru keeping people in inhumane conditions. The endless
tales of death by suicide, of broken children, of crippling mental
ill-health, of violence, of despair, of medical neglect are unacceptable.
In the decade to 2012, about 1000 people are estimated to have died at
sea trying to reach Australia. Twelve people have died in offshore
detention since. No asylum seeker should lose their life trying to
reach our shores.
We can do so much better.