Below is the video of Bill Shorten’s address at the Labor Conference, regarding Asylum Seeker and immigration policies. Key points from the address are listed below:
Key Points:
- Immigration has been one of the secrets of Australia’s success.
- Shorten believes in a new direction for Australia’s immigration policies
- Accept more refugees and ensure we treat refugees more humanely
- Shorten guarantees to keep closed the lethal journey between Java and Christmas Island, which claims lives.
- Australia can be the greater, kinder nation, we want our children to see.
- A Labor Govt will keep more people safe in a more humane way
- Safe from persecution by dictatorial regimes
- Safe from the exploitation of criminal people smugglers who prey upon the vulnerable.
- Safe from abuse in facilities which even fail to meet the basic standard of decency
- Safe from losing people they love from having families torn apart from drownings at sea
- In addressing this, unlike the Liberal National Coalition, we do not play to the politics of fear
- Labor will never use labels to denigrate desperate people
- Fleeing persecution is not a crime
- We will not pander to a noisy tiny minority who will never embrace multi-cultural Australia
- Shorten acknowledges the history of Asylum seeker policy
- We must ensure Navy, customs officials and border force people never again pull bodies from waters
- We must maintain regional settlement agreements Labor introduced. Safest deterrent to people smugglers
- Under Labor’s policies people smugglers cannot falsely advertise settlement in Australia
- There are now over 60 million displaced people in the world through no fault of their own and this will only increase
- Risking lives in unsafe vessels will only increase and desperation will become more intense.
- We should never tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable people.
- We cannot allow people smugglers to take advantage of perceived weakness.
- We need to ensure people smugglers cannot traffic vulnerable people.
- We need to ensure Australia provides safe haven to a greater share of refugees
- Displaced people will arrive here more safely.
- We must have the option of turning boats around provided it is safe to do so.
- By 2025, a Labor Govt will double Australia’s annual refugee intake to 27,000 people.
- Labor will dedicate a portion of our program to resettling refugees from our region.
- Labor will abolish temporary protection visas
- Labor will reinstate the United Nations Refugee Convention in the Migration Act.
- Labor will reverse the Abbott Govt’s retrograde efforts to undermine international law
- Labor will deliver historic 450 million dollars to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees
- Labor will take up overdue leadership role to work and engage with our neighbours, including Indonesia
- Labor supports regional processing.
- Processing offshore does not mean we can offshore or outsource our humanity
- Vulnerable people should never be subject to degrading violence in Australia’s name.
- To guarantee safety Labor will implement Independent oversight of every Australian funded facility
- Labor will ensure refugee claims are processed as quickly as possible.
- Labor will restore access to the refugee review tribunal
- Labor will ensure increased transparency for processing times.
- Labor will fulfil the solemn duty we owe to children.
- Labor will end the moral shame of children in detention as quickly as possible.
- Labor will establish an Independent Children’s Advocate
- Independent Children’s advocate will be separate from Department, Minister & Government, serving only the interests of children.
- In addition to Whistle Blower safeguards, Labor will legislate to impose mandatory reporting of any child abuse in all facilities.
- Labor’s plan ensures Australia takes a fair share of refugees
- Labor’s plan ensures refugees in our care are treated with humanity and dignity
- Labor’s plan ensures that Australia steps up and fulfils a greater responsibility as a global citizen
- Shorten says he did not enter politics to shirk hard decisions and hard issues
- Shorten is determined for our country to be responsible in the world and secure at home
- Shorten is determined for us to be a welcoming, kind, compassionate and safe destination
- Shorten is determined Labor will achieve this for Australia.
*Video sourced from Bill Shorten’s Facebook page.
Originally published on Polyfeministix
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