10/9/08; The Sunday Telegraph, No Internet Text
A story by Glenn Milne on temporary protection visas (ST, 19/4) used the words ” more illegal refugees would try to reach Australia” Arrival by boat for the purposes of seeking asylum is not illegal under Australian law. Refugees, by definition, cannot be illegal refugees, as they have a lawful status; they have not broken a law and have not been prosecuted. So to use the phrase “illegal refugee” is not only incorrect, but accuses people of a crime that not only have they not committed, but does not actually exist. Such claims do not add any positive input to public discourse about a sensitive area of public policy: – Kate Gauthier, co-ordinator, A Just Australia.
Tags: Australia, Human Rights, Refugees & Migrants