Union offers solutions for refugees and asylum seekers

A union report presents some interesting and well thought out ideas on how Australia can approach the so-called refugee and asylum-seeker problem.

The Independent Education Union (private school teachers and administrative
& support staff) last year asked the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and
Community Education (a think-tank set up by the Christian Brothers) to
research and make recommendations about how Australia could better deal with
refugees and asylum seekers.

The report has now been published and is available on the IEU's web site. Go
to www.nswactieu.labor.net.au - go to"What's New" - it's the top item.

The ACTU has endorsed the report as the basis for its policy development.

Key recommendations are:

* compulsory processing to replace mandatory detention;

* end temporary protection visas, replace with permanent protection visas;

* release asylum seekers into the community after initial health and

security checks;

* establish fast-tracking facility on Christmas Island

* end the Pacific solution and enter into negotiations with Indonesia and

other source countries.

For further information

March 2002 contents