Brigidine Convent,

60 Stuart Rd,

 Dharruk. 2770

31st July, 2002

Phone: 96257560

Fax: 96256359

 

The Secretary,

Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee,

Suite, S1.108

Parliament House,

Canberra.  ACT  2600

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I write with regard to the Migration Legislation Amendment Bill your committee is considering. I write on behalf of our Social Justice Group that meets regularly at Rosebery, in Sydney.

We believe that the present policy on Asylum Seekers, and especially the proposed Bill to excise certain islands from the Migration Zone, is seriously flawed.

 

First, I ask myself, would  this new law deter asylum seekers, as it is purported to do? I think not, because it would only mean that the already desperate asylum seekers would continue on to the mainland in their quest for security. It should be rejected, as not providing the border security it claims to do .

 

Secondly, the whole concept of excising islands in order to prevent desperate people from seeking asylum, which is a universally accepted   human right, is odious. In the Migration Act of 1958, Australia recognised that universal human right. Where is the future of our country if its elected leaders do not uphold universal principles of humanity ?

 

Thirdly, Parliament has rejected this bill. In the Westminster tradition , the Government should respect this and not seek to subvert the Will of Parliament. Undermining this fundamentally important tradition would set a dangerous precedent.

 

 

Therefore, we ask you to reject this Bill.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Maureen Keady CSB        maureenkeady@bigpond.com