Liberal Senator's immigration heroism

On Wednesday, the Senate made two decisions which take immigration reform forward. The first was to pass the Abolition of Detention Debt Bill, the second was not to disallow the abolition of the '45 day rule' regulations.

In the House, several Liberals had spoken in favour of the reforms, but in the Senate, only Senator Judith Troeth supported these reforms.

Senator Troeth is one of a few Liberals who have spoken out against the harsher features of Immigration Policy under the Howard Government. She contributed to reforms in detention and opposed the harsher elements of the 'Pacific Solution'.

In her speech this week she spoke of meeting with people affected by the laws, and those who have studied the adverse social and psychological impact on asylum seekers. Her speeches in the Senate this week illustrate that the Coalition can consider another way to approach immigration policy, rather than just be 'tough'.

'The comment has been made that the more we 'soften' ... policies towards refugees the more we can expect a flood of refugees,' Senator Troeth said. 'And words like 'flood', 'panic' and 'hundreds of thousands of people arriving on our shores' are used all too often.'

'Australia received ... 4500 asylum claims. That is 0.05 per cent of the worldwide total, and almost all of them did not arrive by boat. So I challenge the theories of those who want to say that this is opening the floodgates. Firstly, that is an unpalatable concept to those of us who think about it and, secondly, it simply is not true.'

The Abolition of Debt Bill meant that no longer would those in detention be charged for their detention. In reality, very few ever were, and only about 2.5 per cent of the charges were ever recovered, as those granted protection visas as refugees had the debt waived. The Government argued it was costing more than the amount recovered to maintain the scheme. Senator Troeth agreed that the debts law had to go.

'Let us just do away with it,' she said. 'The law does not help. Even if it is never collected, the fact is that it is still a blot on our statute book and I for one will not accept that it should be in continuation. No advanced society should have on its books laws like this, and so I will be supporting the government on this bill.'

The other Senate debate was about the abolition of the 45 day rule. This rule meant that if someone arrived in Australia with a visa and was immigration cleared, if they wished to apply for protection they must do so within 45 days of arrival or they would not have any permission to work on their bridging visa while their case was decided.

The rule was arbitrary and quite unfair. In practice it meant rushing cases to lodgment to meet the deadline rather than the benefit of more time to check the claims. A simple mistake by an advisor could have adverse consequences later for the asylum seeker.

Once again Senator Troeth's speech succinctly rebutted the claims of her Coalition colleagues and raised questions for the future of Liberal Policy in the area.

'Our vote on this regulation today will not change the country,' she said. 'It will not pave new highways, fix our hospitals or build more schools. But it will show that we are a nation of compassion by righting a wrong that is causing needless suffering to people in our country.'

Senator Troeth observed that it was 'not a mark of pride for this parliament that successive governments have devalued' the principles of compassion and concern for the unfortunate in the administration of Immigration Policy. 'The shameful burden placed on churches, community groups and benevolent individuals by this policy is incompatible with the indelible concept and revered national tradition of the fair go.'

The Liberal Party, she added, 'has a proud story to tell on immigration, but both parties over the last 50 years have written some bleak chapters too. We find our genesis in Harold Holt's dismantling of the White Australia policy and in Malcolm Fraser's welcoming of Vietnamese refugees that not only made Australia's migrant intake truly multiracial but turned the abolition of the White Australia policy into a practical reality.'

'Australia', she concluded, 'does not have to choose between strong, secure borders and compassion for those seeking liberty and freedom. We can have both.

Sadly, Liberal Senator Troth will retire at the end of her term. It is hoped that her replacement will be as articulate and humane in the Senate.

FURTHER READING:
Kerry Murphy's full review of the immigration reform Hansard