Six out of 10 Australians are unaware that refugee children are being detained on Nauru, according to a new poll.
The poll was commissioned by World Vision Australia which is among a coalition of humanitarian and refugee advocacy groups which recently launched a campaign, #KidsOffNauru, to have the more than 110 children on the island removed by Universal Children’s Day, 20th November.
“George” is one of the 112 refugee children on Nauru. His family has been detained there for five years. PICTURE: Supplied.
Conducted by Essential Research, the poll found that 60 per cent of Australians either thought there were no children detained on Nauru or weren’t sure, and that the same percentage believed that no matter the reason, children didn’t deserve to be detained on Nauru. Sixty-six per cent agreed that indefinitely detaining children on Nauru was cruel and damaging to their health and welfare.
Other findings showed that almost half of those surveyed believed it seemed like the Australian Government was trying to hide the truth about children detained on Nauru, that 57 per cent said they wanted Australian politicians to urgently prioritise getting the children off Nauru, and, that 45 per cent said they would support a brand or company that speaks out in favour of getting children off Nauru.
Claire Rogers, CEO of World Vision Australia, said the clock is “ticking to evacuate the children and have them resettled either here or in a third country that welcomes them”.
“It is heartbreaking that Australia’s political leaders have kept these children out of sight and mind of most Australians, who are increasingly shocked to learn about the conditions these children continue to endure,” she said. “But now the light has been shone on the faces of these children. They and their families deserve to start their new lives with certainty as soon as possible.”
More than 60,000 Australians and 137 organisations have so far signed up to the #KidsOffNauru campaign.
The poll was conducted from 9th to 12th August and involved 1032 respondents.
