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Lies, lies, lies
One Man's Web > Politics
and Ethics > Australia and the
refugees > Lies
Posted 15-11-2003
MEDIA RELEASE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY UNITING CHURCH
To: Newsdesk 14.11.03
From: Kim Cain, Media Liaison 0419 373 123
'ONE MORE LIE IN A LONG LINE OF LIES', SAY UNITING
CHURCH LEADERS
Leaders of the Uniting Church in Australia today said they are not surprised that the
Australian Government ignored the pleas for asylum of the Turkish Kurds from the
Minasa Bone.
"Australia's legislative response to asylum seekers has once again been shown to be a
charade," said the President of the Uniting Church, Rev. Dr Dean Drayton.
Rev. Elenie Poulos, the National Director of Uniting Justice, said, "The Federal Government
has long been misleading the Australian public about its refugee policies.
"The Government has consistently maintained that its policies do not breach our human rights
obligations – they do. It claims that people have been well cared for in our detention centres –
they are not. It claims that Australia's refugee policy is admired and respected – it is not. And
of course, the 'children thrown overboard' were not.
Rev. Poulos, who has recently returned from meetings of UNHCR in Geneva, went on to say:
"Australia's reputation has not so much been damaged by the latest lies but rather reinforced.
The international community are only too aware of Australia's willingness to breach its
international obligations. What may shock them is how exactly how far this Government is
prepared to go.
"It is extraordinary that the Government has been willing to risk its integrity over a small
boatload of desperate people. And it is indeed a sad time in our country's history when we
close our hearts and our borders to match," she said.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Kim Cain 04129 373 123
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