Asylum Seekers

The majority didn't want to challenge the Government's decision to stop resettlement of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approved refugees from Indonesia after 1 July 2014.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young had introduced a motion that asked the Government "to reverse the decision and instead work collaboratively with our neighbours, accelerate refugee processing and increase Australia's intake from the region".

Wording of the motion

That the Senate—

(a) condemns the Government's decision to no longer resettle United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approved refugees from Indonesia after 1 July 2014;

(b) recognises that there are more than 10,000 asylum seekers and refugees already registered with the UNHCR in Indonesia awaiting resettlement;

(c) calls on the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Mr Morrison) to heed the requests of Indonesia and urgently meet with his counterparts regarding the Australian Government's decision; and

(d) calls on the Government to reverse the decision and instead work collaboratively with our neighbours, accelerate refugee processing and increase Australia's intake from the region.