John Madigan (Victoria, Democratic Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' position is that Australia should provide asylum seekers who enter Australia by whatever means with a full and efficient refugee status determination process in Australia, and

(ii) it would be significantly more cost effective to process asylum seekers onshore as opposed to off shore;

(b) recognises that Australia:

(i) only has limited influence in ending the circumstances forcing people to flee their homeland and seek asylum,

(ii) must increase efforts overseas to do all it can to foster peace and stability in areas of conflict around the world, and

(iii) must also focus on what it can do to help the plight of asylum seekers in a balanced, dignified, safe and compassionate way; and

(c) calls on the Government to:

(i) strengthen relations and provide further assistance to Indonesia to stop people attempting the treacherous journey from Indonesia to Australia by boat,

(ii) increase our annual asylum seeker and refugee intake from Indonesia, and

(iii) process all asylum seekers onshore, at least in recognition of it being cheaper.