Labor MP defends mandatory detention

Zoe Kenny,
Melbourne

October 19, 40 people attended a public forum at
the Victorian Trades Hall organised by the Refugee Action
Collective (RAC) to discuss perspectives for the
refugee-rights movement after the re-election of the Coalition
government.

Ahmed Raza, an Afghan temporary protection visa holder,
spoke of his worry that he may not be allowed to stay in
Australia, now that the Howard government has been re-elected.
RAC activist Sandra Bloodworth pointed out that parliament is
not the decisive factor in achieving progressive change and
emphasised the importance of grassroots movements on the
streets.

Federal Labor MP Anna Burke, who has been thanked by the
refugee-rights movement in the past for breaking ranks with
ALP policy on the issue of refugees, raised the ire of many at
the forum when she spoke of the need to maintain mandatory
detention of refugees as a means of curbing the spread of
"communicable diseases".

From Green Left Weekly, October 27, 2004.

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From GLW issue 604