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Australian churches call for an end to “demonisation” of asylum seekers and refugees

The Australian Churches’ Refugee Taskforce has joined with the National Council of Churches in Australia in calling for an end to the “demonising” of refugees and asylum seekers and for the adoption of a humane approach to their care and support.

In a statement released on Friday, the ACRT and NCCA welcomed recent moves to remove all children held on Nauru under immigration processing rules as well as the historic passing this week of a bill in the Australian Parliament which changes the rules around the medical transfer of sick refugees being held by the Australian Government on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia.

But they added that while the measures were “humane” and “in no way” jeopardised Australia’s national security, they did not go far enough.

“As people of faith we reject any rhetoric that suggests Australia is facing a border protection crisis and that Australia needs to reopen Christmas Island as a detention facility,” they said. “As people of faith we call on people from all sides of politics, the media and society to avoid using language that seeks to demonise groups of people currently held in detention and other people wanting to come to Australia to seek a safe life.”

They called on politicians from all parties to outline “reasoned and humane policies that will end offshore detention”.  

“We want to ensure the dignity and well-being of all in our care, including those people seeking safe refuge who are in Australia and being left destitute in our communities and neighbourhoods by current policy.”

The statement said churches and their agencies stand “ready to help”.

The passing of the medical transfer bill this week represented the first time in almost 80 years a government had lost a vote on legislation in the Lower House. Moments before it passed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had reopened the Christmas Island detention centre.

Others among those who had welcomed its passing during the week was World Vision Australia CEO Claire Rogers.

Rogers said that the bill, which gets the “balance between compassion and safety right”, would ensure those who have “suffered at our hands will get the treatment they so urgently need”.

“This is justice, this is what Australians want,” she said in comments seen by Sight. “MPs have listened, democracy works!”

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