Greens Sen. Hanson-Young: Australia Must Asses Sri Lankan Asylum Claims Before Any Other Country

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, spokes person for the Greens on immigration, has stated that it is Important that the 157 Sir Lankan asylum seekers understand that they have right and that there are people in Australia who care about them and their welfare.

157 Sri Lankan asylum seekers are being held in the immigration detention centres by the Abbott Government. Senator Hanson-Young has called on the government to respect their rights while in detention. The senator is planning a trip to the detention centre in the coming days to seek clarification on what medical support is being offered to asylum seekers and in particular what care and assistance is being afforded to the children.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has stated, in his “stop the boat policy” that the asylum seekers will be sent back to where they came from, in this case India. “There is no basis in law for India’s involvement in the assessment of these asylum claims in Australia. The Indian Government doesn’t process people’s claims in India, it is all left to the UNHCR, and they shouldn’t be involved in the process here in Australia.” Stated Senator Hanson-Young.