MANNING CLARK HOUSE

April 1, 2007
MEDIA RELEASE

Forum seeks fair go for asylum seekers

A Canberra gathering this weekend of politicians, lawyers, medical practitioners, academics, refugee advocates, writers – and interested citizens – has attacked the Government’s so-called Pacific Solution as “unfair and unreasonable”.

A statement of principles approved by more than 300 people attending the 2007 Manning Clark House Weekend of Ideas criticised the policy through which asylum seekers may be processed “in isolation, beyond the reach of the rule of law, legal help and independent review process”.

They called on the Government to:
· give permanent visas to those found to be refugees, with full access to government migrant and refugee settlement services
· abolish the policy of mandatory, indefinite, non-reviewable detention
· reverse the policy of excised territories, and ensure asylum seekers arriving in any Australian territory have the right to seek asylum and be given access to Australia’s refugee determination, and
· process asylum seekers on the Australian mainland.

The sixth annual Weekend of Ideas, organised by Manning Clark House – entitled A FAIR GO FOR REFUGEES? – drew speakers and participants from around Australia.

Speakers included barrister and refugee advocate Julian Burnside QC; law professor Frank Brennan; former Federal Court judge Ron Merkel QC; head of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre David Manne; academics Dr Mary Crock, Dr John Warhurst and Dr Bill Maley; the NSW Institute of Psychiatry’s Dr Louise Newman; the president of Australians Against Racism, Eva Sallis; co-founder of Rural Australians for Refugees, Anne Coombs; executive director of GetUp!, Brett Solomon; writers Tony Kevin, Arnold Zable and David Marr and politicians Dr Carmen Lawrence, Senator Kerry Nettle and Senator Andrew Bartlett.

“All of those in attendance called on Australians to work individually and collectively for changes to Australia’s refugee regime – to reflect the traditional Australian values of a fair go, decency, and generosity to those in need,” said Sebastian Clark, Manning Clark House president.

For more information please contact Weekend of Ideas coordinator Sandy Forbes on (02) 6295 9433 or email manningclark@ozemail.com.au or call Tony Kevin on (02) 6295 6588.

Manning Clark House, a lively cultural and scholarly centre, is based in Canberra at the former home of historian Manning Clark and linguist Dymphna Clark.

PO Box 3096, Manuka ACT 2603
11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest ACT 2603
Tel: (02) 6295 9433 manningclark@ozemail.com.au
www.manningclark.org.au