Sydney Diocese supports Private Members’ Migration Amendment Bills
The Archbishop of Sydney in consultation with the Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney has called on Members of the Federal Parliament to support the Private Members' Migration Amendment Bills. These are presented by MPs Petro Georgiou, Bruce Baird, and Judi Moylan, Russell Broadbent and Marise Payne have joined them in support of the Bills.
"The Bible teaches us that God cares for the stranger and sojourner. As Christians we therefore reflect God's character in showing compassion towards refugees," Bishop Glenn Davies, Bishop of North Sydney said. "Recent events have cast doubt upon the way in which Australia has dealt with detainees and asylum seekers.
"We therefore commend a vigorous and robust debate on these issues in our society and support the proposed Private Members' Bills soon to be considered by our Federal Parliament." Bishop Davies said.
This call from the Diocese of Sydney is made on the advice of the Diocesan Social Issues Executive that says the current policy of immigration detention is flawed and that the government needs an urgent re-think of this policy. The two main objections are:
(a) that the departmental system governing it is too closed and unaccountable to judicial processes, and,
(b) that detainees are often stuck in the system for periods of time that are morally dubious and unjustifiable, particularly when it turns out they are not guilty of any crime.
The Bills seek to provide compassionate measures to alleviate the plight of individuals suffering under the present system, greater transparency, greater accountability, and an independent review process outside of the Department. They do not seek to undo the entire mandatory detention policy.
According to Mr Georgiou, the Bills would replace "the system of universal mandatory detention of unauthorised asylum seekers with a targeted system of detention subject to judicial scrutiny."
The Social Issues Executive has outlined for Sydney Anglicans the main thrusts of the Bills as follows:
"¢ The first Bill being proposed " the Migration Amendment (Act of Compassion) Bill 2005 " contains compassionate measures to alleviate the plight of individuals who are suffering under the current system. It would allow the release of asylum seekers detained for longer than 12 months, after health and security checks, while their cases are assessed. It would also allow the release of women and children from detention while their cases are being assessed. All those who have been granted temporary protection will be given permanent protection.
"¢ The second Bill " the Migration Amendment (Mandatory Detention) Bill 2005 " aims to overturn universal mandatory detention and replace it with a "targeted" system of detention. According to Mr Georgiou, asylum seekers who don't have a visa will be detained only if it is necessary to detain them on specified grounds. These detention decisions will be subject to Federal Court judicial scrutiny. Departmental officers will be able to detain people initially for up to 90 days and then must show cause to the Federal Court as to why further detention is required. The Federal Court may order continued detention for recurring periods of 90 days. This Bill also seeks to grant permanent protection (rather than temporary protection which is currently the case) to those found to be genuine refugees.
The Archbishop calls on all Sydney Anglicans who agree with this legislation to fax, write or phone the Liberal backbenchers and their local Federal MP expressing support for the proposals.
[Contact numbers are available from Ms Tracy Gordon, Research Officer of the Social Issues Executive, on 02 9565 5318 or 0409 120 076].
CONTACT:
Bishop Glenn Davies, Bishop of North Sydney
(Mobile) 0439 941 967
Bishop Reg Piper, Bishop of Wollongong (for Wollongong, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands media)
(Mobile) 0408 029 379
Margaret Rodgers
(W) 02 9265 1507
(Mobile) 0411 692 499
