As the world marks Refugee Week (19 to 25 June), Australian Red Cross welcomes the success of the Community Detention Program which is based on both common sense and compassion, and removes vulnerable migrant families and children from the damaging environment of traditional immigration detention arrangements. Red Cross applauds the fact that this program enjoys cross party support as this sends an important message to the wider Australian community about the importance of humanitarian values.
Refugee Week is a time to recognise the courage and strength of refugees and to celebrate the rich contribution they make to our society. Refugees come from all walks of life, including professionals, people persecuted for their political beliefs, and mothers and fathers trying to find a safe place for their families.
Community-based arrange-ments for asylum seekers are far more appropriate, humane, sustainable and in line with the values of our society. In partnership with some 20 other charities and community groups, Red Cross has been leading the implementation of these arrangements, under the Government’s Community Detention Program.
The success of these new community-based arrangements supports the findings of an Australian Red Cross survey last year, which found most Australians were sympathetic to the plight of refugees, with eight out of 10 people saying they would help a refugee settle into their community. The survey also found 83 per cent of people agreed that those fleeing persecution should be able to take refuge in another country.
It is important to keep debate on these issues in perspective and remember that, compared with other refugee-hosting countries, Australia receives a very small number of asylum applications. Last year Australia received 8250 applications for asylum, just 2 per cent of the 358,840 applications received across 44 industrialised nations.
Red Cross tries to give care when it is needed most and there is little doubt refugees and asylum seekers — who have often fled persecution and threats of death, and who often have little or no social support in Australia, are among the most vulnerable in our society.
Robert Tickner
Australian Red Cross CEO
