Malcolm Turnbull, who is currently in New York City at a special summit on the refugee crisis, has confirmed that Australia‘s humanitarian intake will be set permanently at approximately 19,000 a year – which now includes a contingent of refugees from Central America.
The crisis in Central America doesn’t get as much airplay – especially in Australia – thanks to the overwhelming horror currently transpiring in Syria and surrounds, but it’s a pretty big deal: hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from the violence-stricken countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Turnbull, who has spent the summit somewhat on the defensive regarding Australia’s punitive border protection policies, has been arguing that nations in Europe and beyond ought to adopt our border regime so that their populations will accept higher refugee intake.
Australians support these actions because they have confidence that our migration system is well managed. This confidence is a key pillar on which our successful multicultural society is built (but) allow public trust to erode and the mutual trust that binds us will similarly falter. As leaders, we must always choose laws and policies that develop strength and unity over weakness and division.
Without aggressive border measures, Turnbull said, “you don’t have the public license to have a generous humanitarian program.”
The Prime Minister also announced a $130 million commitment towards providing aid to displaced people across the world, with focus on bolstering migration cash-strapped migration agencies.
The figure of 18,750 will be above our skilled migration intake, and it does not include the special intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees which Tony Abbott announced but has not yet been implemented in any broad way. Abbott announced the increase of the figure from 13,750, but did not say it would be permanent.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Getty Images.
