Response from Senator McAllister to Mike Griffin's letter to ALP

From: "McAllister, Jennifer (Senator)" <Senator.McAllister@aph.gov.au>
To: "'Mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com'" <Mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com>
Sent: Thursday, 27 Sep, 2018 At 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: Bellingen and Nambucca District RAR letter

Dear Mike,

Thank you for your letter on Manus and Nauru. I can tell how important this issue is to you and I very much appreciate you taking the time to write to me.

I too am very concerned about people seeking asylum; both about the manner in which these new measures have been introduced into the public debate, and the measures themselves. As you know, we have a pressing current problem in finding  resettlement options for those presently on Manus and Nauru, which the government seems unable or unwilling to address.

A Labor Government will adopt various measures to improve the lives of those seeking refuge and asylum. Labor will end the secrecy on Manus and Nauru, double Australia’s annual refugee intake to 27,000 by 2025, create an independent children's advocate for  children whose claims are being assessed, work to get people out of detention as soon as possible, and provide financial support to the UNHCR. You can read more about our policies here: www.alp.org.au/asylumseekers

More broadly, I am personally committed to working to improve Australia's policy on people seeking asylum, so as to better protect the many displaced people across the globe who need our support. As caring people, I believe we have an obligation  to help where we can, and opportunities to do so in our region and beyond. There are many ways we can strengthen the global response to this enormous challenge. We shouldn't be deterred by the complexity of the task.

Kind Regards,

Senator Jenny McAllister