More Refugees Have Been Released From Detention As Part Of A Morrison Government Election Tactic
An Iranian refugee said his release from Park Hotel was "absolutely due to the upcoming federal election”.
A small group of refugees have been released into the community after nine years in detention, in what has been described as an election tactic for the Morrison Government.
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) said that 18 refugees were released on Friday, with half estimated to have been from Melbourne’s infamous Park Hotel and the remaining from Brisbane Immigration Transit Accomodation, Melbourne Immigration Transit Accomodation, and Villawood Detention Centre in NSW.
Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at the ASRC Jana Favero told The Guardian that the timing is likely due to the upcoming federal election in May, to appease independent politicians with interests in refugee rights.
“It really appears that they are happy to use people seeking asylum and refugees as political pawns,” she said. “They will detain them if they think that is politically advantageous, and they will release them if they are trying to gain ground in small-L liberal seats.”
Iranian refugee Hossein Latifi agreed, telling the publication that his release from Park Hotel was “absolutely due to the upcoming federal election.”
The news comes off the back of an earlier release in March, where nine refugees were also freed from Park Hotel. “I think … the government doesn’t want to have a burning issue over Park Hotel as it goes into the election, and the slow release [of refugees] is a way of simply taking a little bit of pressure off,” spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition Ian Rintoul told Al Jazeera at the time.
On Monday, it was revealed that Australia is finalising a resettlement deal with the United States for 1250 refugees by the end of year, after a similar arrangement was announced with New Zealand, but only for 150 refugees, a week and a half prior.
In the Federal Budget last Tuesday, the Morrison Government also revealed an additional 16,500 humanitarian places for Afghan nationals over the next four years and $65 million to assist in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, but the Refugee Council of Australia also pointed out a spike in spending on offshore processing, as well as a reduction in funds for settlement services and dedicated government bodies this financial year.
The ASRC predicts that a remaining 33 refugees are still being held in onshore detention centres.
Photo Credit: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre