THE Federal Government’s proposed changes to immigration policy on asylum seekers were “complicated and silly”, Australian Catholic and Migrant Refugee Office director Fr John Murphy said.
Speaking on June 20, World Refugee Day, Fr Murphy reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to mandatory detention.
Amendments, which would mean all boatpeople would be processed in offshore detention centres, were listed for debate in the House of Representatives on June 20 but were delayed as the Government continued talks with a group of dissident backbenchers who opposed the changes.
Fr Murphy said a letter from the Australian Catholic bishops to Prime Minister John Howard in May urged him to reconsider proposed legislation to process all boatpeople asylum claims offshore.
Meanwhile, Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) has urged Mr Howard to consistently promote and defend human rights in his dealings with Indonesian authorities and asylum seekers.
CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt said the Church was passionately concerned for the dignity and rights of all human beings.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) on June 20 called on the Federal Government to ensure protection of asylum seekers.
Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes said the commission held significant concerns about the passage of the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill.
