Nature of Current Issue

Question 1

Who are Asylum Seekers?

Answer 1

• Asylum seekers are people seeking international protection but whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined
• An Asylum Seeker may be fleeing from war, persecution (due to skin colour, race religion political ideologies)
• Australia’s migrant act of 1958 requires all “unlawful non citizens” (that is people who are not Australian citizens and do not have a valid visa) be detained in Mandatory detention centres, regardless of circumstances until they are granted a visa or leave the country
• In 2012 the Australian Government introduced “third country” processing under this system, Asylum seekers who arrive by boat without a valid visa will be transferred to and detained in Nauru or Papua New Guinea
• There is no time limit on immigration detention in Australia and thus a person can be detained indefinitely

Question 2

How does Australia current treat Asylum Seekers?

Answer 2

• Australia has one of the most restrictive immigration detention centres in the World
• Detention centres and especially offshore dentition centres are criticised for their bleak, squalid conditions with documentation of water shortages as well as a lack of clothing and footwear
• Conditions have led to outbreaks of lice, bacterial skin infections and Gastroenteritis
• The guards surrounding the locals are hostile and detainees are regularly physically and verbally abused
• Debilitating and inadequate facilities in these dentition centres have led to a high number of cases of mental illness, self harm and suicide rates causing significant mental trauma (2016 World Health Report)
• Treatment is seen as inhuman and barbaric

Question 3

Why does this issue generate tension and conflict?

Answer 3

• Tension and conflict arises between the Australian Government’s stance on no change in its policy regarding the offshore processing of Asylum Seekers on Nauru and Manus Island and demands from Asylum Seeker advocates such as doctor and the human rights commission who want to put an end to the system

Question 4

What are the Arguments for the issue?

Answer 4

• The Australian Government argues that its policies have been successful and affective in that it has stopped people smugglers an dentition centres are becoming less populated
• They believe they have stoped people taking the dangerous risky boat trip and thus there are less death occurring
• Overall seeing its laws as an effective deterrent

Question 5

What are the Arguments against this issue?

Answer 5

• Many human rights advocates believe Australia’s regional processing legislation violates many of our human right obligations including:
• Conditions in regional processing facilities fall short of the minimum standards required by human right treaties, Manus Island was held to be unfit for children and vulnerable people such as pregnant women
• Australia’s offshore processing and “no advantage” policies unlawfully discriminate between Asylum Seekers based on their mode of transport and date of arrival
• The cumulative impact of the policy - in particular peoples physical and mental health was found to constitute degrading treatment under international covenant of civil and political rights

Question 6

Why is this issue relevant for Religion?

Answer 6

• Religion will have concerns about a range of issues within society, sometimes such issues are a matter of concern because they impact upon the beliefs, practises and or lifestyle of a religion and its followers
• This issue of Asylum Seekers is of concern to Roman Catholicism as the Human Dignity of Asylum Seekers is not being respected
• Human Dignity is something that cannot be taken away- the Catholic Social Teachings state that each and every person has value, and are worthy of great respect and mist be free from exploitation and manipulation
• The Catholic Social Teachings believe that human beings are cerated in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and have by their nature inherent value, worth, respect and distinction and the treatment on offshore detention centres violates these rights

Question 7

What is a Societal View on this issue?

Answer 7

There are people in society, Government and organisations such as WHO and human rights advocates who argue for the disclosure of these harsh living conditions in these offshore detention centres such as Manus Island and are concerned with the dignity go these people and their human rights e.g. UN, Lawyers, WHO

Question 8

What Religious view is expressed on this issue?

Answer 8

• A religious view has been expressed by the Australian Catholic Bishops who have released their 2015-16 social justice statement ‘For those who’ve come across the seas: justice for refugees and Asylum Seekers’ which calls for the processing of Asylum Seekers claims onshore and for the limitation of detention immigrant facilities to the shortest period possible and to undertake identity, health and security checks
• This view is supported by the belief that Human beings are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27)
• No human being should have their dignity or freedom compromised therefore a religion responds to this issue as inherent human dignity is not being respected by the treatment of using offshore detention centres