Over 35 human rights organizations on Friday issued an open letter, addressed to the leaders of Australia’s three major political parties, urging them to foster a “civil and respectful discourse” on the topic of refugees and asylum-seekers ahead of the upcoming federal elections in May.
In the letter, local NGOs such as the Asylum Seekers Center and the Refugee Council of Australia stressed the fact that debates surrounding the topic of refugees should under all circumstances remain “fact-based, compassionate, and informed by lived experience.” Underscoring the demand, the letter points out the fact that under international law, every individual has the right to asylum. Simultaneously, Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention states that no state has the right to expel a refugee if “his life or freedom would be threatened…” In a compelling argument to the political parties, the letter points out that Australian voters expect a “fair and humane approach” to refugees according to recent polls.
Further, the letter also suggested that certain terminology employed by the media, such as “illegal immigrants” or “illegals,” might constitute a breach of the Australian Press Council’s Standards of Practice. It stated that:
The media can cause confusion and unconscious bias among the audience. They should teach their audience that refugees are people who are also able to contribute massively.
The political landscape in Australia has been filled with heated political debates surrounding the topic over the last year. Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister and leader of the Labor Party, in collaboration with the Liberal/National Coalition led by Peter Dutton, passed the Migration Amendment Bill 2024 in November of last year. The bill was harshly criticized by NGO’s, such as Amnesty International arguing that it directly contradicts the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The federal elections are set to be between May 3 and 17. It remains to be seen whether the discourse in the upcoming debates will remain respectful and aligned with the calls for dignity outlined in the open letter.
