letter from Mike Griffin to Shane Neumann on Labor Party Policy on Asylum Seekers

_{Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 4:14 PM}

_{To: Shayne Neumann MP}

_{Subject: Asylum policy}

_{Dear Mr Neumann,}

  _{On 5th May 1992, the Labor minister for immigration introduced an urgent Bill into parliament to legislate for the mandatory detention of people fleeing danger and persecution, and who were seeking the protection of the Australian government in accordance with our international obligations. At the time, the minister, Gerry Hand, assured parliament that the new law was “only intended as an interim measure”. He further stated that the government had no wish to “keep people in custody indefinitely” and that he “could not expect parliament to support such a suggestion”.}

_{As we all know, the effects of this “interim measure”, still supported by Labor, have been catastrophic for the thousands of asylum seekers who have sought safety on our shores over the past twenty five years. We still have almost 2000 asylum seekers and refugees languishing on Nauru and Manus Island, whose only hope now is the possibility for some of them to be traded and resettled in the USA.  Those remaining will no doubt continue to be pressurised to “go back to where they came from” or offered the untenable prospect of resettlement in PNG,  Nauru, or indeed anywhere else on earth where the government, supported supinely by Labor, might persuade another country to accept them.}

 _{I find it utterly shameful that the Labor party, of which I was a member for more than 30 years, continues to support this cruel, inhumane and unlawful policy. There was a time when Labor would stand up for those in need, would act out of principle and humanity and would be proud of its policy positions in relation to justice and equality. Clearly that does not apply to asylum seekers and refugees.}

_{The boats have stopped. It is surely time to end the misery of our offshore detainees , to close the camps without delay, and to resettle those found to be genuine refugees in Australia. Using these wretched people as human shields in order to somehow protect the Australian people is an utterly reprehensible policy, and Labor should not support it.}

_{I look forward to the time when Labor rediscovers its soul.}

_{Yours sincerely,}

_{Mike Griffin}

_{Valla Beach}

_{NSW 2448}