BY JODY BETZIEN

MELBOURNE — On February 16, 800 people packed into St Michaels Uniting Church for a forum organised by Women for a Humane Refugee Policy.

Federal Labor MP Carmen Lawrence told the forum that the Howard government's treatment of asylum seekers, “with essentially the acquiescence of the [ALP] opposition, can only be described as inhumane and brutalising”. She urged those who were “ALP members, still” to work to get delegates elected to the national conference to ensure Labor for Refugee's policy was adopted.

Former state Liberal MP Marie Tehan condemned the government for creating “a bizarre entanglement of refugees with terrorism”.

Margaret Piper, executive director of the Refugee Council of Australia, declared: “When the Berlin Wall collapsed, so too did the commitment of states to protecting refugees.” She criticised First World governments for essentially abandoning the 1951 UN refugee convention and using a policy of deterrence to prevent people from seeking asylum.

The meeting adopted by acclamation a motion calling for the release of all asylum seekers into the general community following health and security checks required upon arrival.

From Green Left Weekly, February 26, 2003.
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