Lisa Singh

Senator Lisa Singh has declared the United Nations Refugee Summit to be a key influential factor in the Turnbull government’s re-settlement announcement of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.

“Clearly the agreed outcomes from the UN Refugee Summit have been an influential factor. This highlights the important role of multilateral institutions and the pressure they can wield.”

Senator Singh is currently in New York where she has been seconded to the UN for three months as a parliamentary delegate. She participated in the recent UN Refugee Summit. Without knowing any further detail she welcomed the resettlement of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru, but maintained it was long overdue.

“Some of the key principles from the Summit’s New York Declaration were the political will to protect the human rights of refugees, to expand re-settlement options, and to end the practice of detaining children.

“The Turnbull government agreed to the outcomes of the Summit’s New York Declaration, which has made it untenable for Australia to continue to lock refugees up indefinitely.

“The Turnbull government has failed to protect the human rights of refugees on Manus Island and Nauru, particularly children. Indefinite detention has cost billions of dollars, harmed innocent people who sought our protection, and created damage to our international reputation.

“The UN Refugee Summit, combined with the role the UNHCR will play in this re-settlement arrangement, reinforces the importance of the UN as a global institution setting norms and standards.

“This re-settlement deal underlines the importance of the UN in helping to resolve refugee issues.

"US Secretary of State John Kerry wants all countries to work with the UN on refugees, and I support that call. The more sharing of responsibility with likeminded countries, the better for all.

“I hope this leads to an increase of Australia’s refugee intake. The recent deal to take in refugees from Costa Rica should not be out of our existing intake. Australia has the capacity to double our refugee intake to 25,000+. It would be beneficial for our economy and our global reputation, at a time when we are seeking a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

“This has been a dark and shameful chapter on our nation’s history, which must never be repeated.”

RELEASED 13 NOVEMBER 2016