Kerryn Phelps Used Her Time On ‘Q&A’ To Make An Impassioned Plea For The Kids On Nauru
"The people have spoken."
Kerryn Phelps has used her time on Monday night’s episode of Q&A to call on the government to get asylum seeker children and their families out of detention on Nauru, declaring that “the people have spoken”.
“I believe that we need to bring an end to offshore detention,” she said. “I think it’s cruel and unusual punishment. I don’t think it sits well with the Australian consciousness, and I think it is time that it is brought to an end.”
While an official result in the Wentworth by-election has yet to be declared, Phelps is almost certain to become the next representative for the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The Liberals suffered a massive swing against them in the normally safe division in inner Sydney, where Phelps, an independent, made the treatment of asylum seekers a key issue.
“We need to bring all of the children and their families [to Australia],” she told the Q&A audience. “Not just the very sick children. We don’t wait until there’s an emergency.”
“We need to have children who are growing up in a normal community environment with appropriate social support.”
Phelps also said it was thanks to the voters of Wentworth that Australian border force officials recently moved 11 children from Nauru to Australia for medical treatment.
“The people have spoken on this issue, I believe, in this by-election,” she said.
Earlier this month, nearly 6000 doctors signed an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling on him to get kids off the island. Children in immigration detention on Nauru have been diagnosed with a variety of serious physical and mental health concerns. Several kids have attempted to take their own lives.
Asked by Q&A host Tony Jones whether she would support a no-confidence motion in the government over children in detention, Phelps said it was important to “give the government an opportunity to respond to what the people have said”.
“With an election looming in May of next year, the government will be judged on its response to this,” she said. “I don’t think it will take a motion of no confidence. I think the writing’s on the wall.”
Watch Kerryn Phelps on Q&A below.
How will Kerryn Phelps work to support an immediate end to offshore detention? #QandA pic.twitter.com/4siw1S2Yc1
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) October 22, 2018