This afternoon, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has answered impassioned, bipartisan calls to act on the refugee crisis, announcing that Australia will “step up” and accept more refugees who are fleeing war-torn Syria.
However, while there will be an increase in the number of refugees accepted from Syria, the overall number of refugees Australia accepts will not be increased, according to ABC News.
Tony Abbott said in a press conference in Canberra this afternoon:
“We are proposing to take more people from this region as part of our very substantial commitment to the UNHCR. Our focus will be on families and women and children, especially of persecuted minorities, who have sought refuge in camps neighbouring Syria and Iraq.”
The PM added, “Australia, as always, will step up to the plate. We always do when there is a problem in the world.”
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is set to leave for Geneva today, in a bid to seek advice from the United Nations on how Australia can most effectively aid the humanitarian crisis.
Tony Abbott’s announcement today follows calls from the Greens, Tasmanian Premier and LNP MP Will Hodgman, NSW Premier Mike Baird and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, among others, who have campaigned for the Federal Government to respond to the escalating number of refugees leaving Syria.
Yesterday, Austria and Germany opened their borders to thousands of refugees traveling from Budapest on foot and by bus; arrivals have been welcomed with applause and celebration.
“Welcome to Germany” – People applaud & greet refugees as they arrive in Munich http://t.co/uOicQWfjTi
http://t.co/fMuSkRzLES
— Catrin Nye (@CatrinNye) September 5, 2015
Crowd chanting “welcome!” as the Syrian refugees arrive pic.twitter.com/MYUwkMxAbU
— Caroline Wren (@CarolineWren) September 5, 2015
via ABC.
Lead image via Getty.
