Letter

In response to 12 years on, are we not yet tired of cruel policies towards asylum-seekers?

The end of cruelty towards refugees

Sophie Singh calls for the end of cruelty towards refugees. Labor has done that in part, having transferred up to 19,000 people from TPVs to permanent residency. But we still have too many of the legacy caseload to process and they have been waiting too long.

These are better circumstances for Labor. The fearmongering Peter Dutton is gone. But then we have the vitalisation of Nauru as a refugee colony of Australia if the Nauruans will let it happen. People from all parts of the world are taken to Nauru to start another life. If there are errors on their record that get them there, too bad.

Australia can do better than this, especially for people with physical and mental illness from prolonged uncertainty. With the world closing down on taking our refugees, it’s time for Australia to step up and keep them here.

— Jennifer Haines from Glossodia