Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 462 standing in my name for today.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes that:

(i)

20 June 2009 marks World Refugee Day 2009, and

(ii)

this year’s global theme is ‘Real People, Real Needs’, recognising the lasting sense of security sought by people who have fled from persecution, in search of freedom, security and safety;

(b)

recognises that:

(i)

over the past century the global community has witnessed increasing numbers of refugees fleeing from their homeland in fear of persecution, and

(ii)

as a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Geneva Convention on Refugees, Australia is obliged to protect those seeking asylum from persecution;

(c)

acknowledges:

(i)

the release of the report, Amnesty International Report 2009: The state of the world’s human rights, and

(ii)

that this report highlights the concern with housing children and unaccompanied minors in alternative detention facilities on Christmas Island; and

(d)

encourages the Government to:

(i)

provide additional support to specialised service delivery agencies who work with refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, and

(ii)

ensure that no child or family is detained in any form of high security accommodation on Christmas Island, while their visa application is being processed.

Question agreed to.