James Caufield, Canberra

On May 10, 100 people chanting “Refugees yes, racism no, Johnny Howard has got to go”, rallied outside federal parliament. The demonstration was called by the Refugee Action Committee to protest against the introduction of new anti-refugee laws.

RAC and Socialist Alliance activist Jo Hunt described the government’s actions as farcical. “When it comes to tourists, it’s ‘Where the bloody hell are you?’. But for refugees, it’s ‘Why don’t you bloody well go away?’.”

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle criticised the proposed laws for “excising the entire Australian coastline from the migration zone”, adding that, since the laws will not be voted on until June, a campaign against their passage could be built. Labor migration spokesperson Tony Burke said that the laws could not be amended and had to be voted against.

West Papuan refugee Herman Wainggai described the Indonesian army’s lack of respect for human rights, and refugee advocate and lawyer Marion Le urged closer scrutiny of the government’s laws and actions. Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett described the Nauru detention centre as Australia’s “own Guantanamo Bay”, adding that the government’s new law amounts to “ripping up international law”.

From Green Left Weekly, May 24, 2006.
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