AUSTRALIAN Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office director Fr Maurizio Pettena CS has challenged the Australian Government to consider the dignity of human life when dealing with issues of irregular migration.
Reflecting on the phenomenon of Global Migration, Fr Pettena questioned Prime Minister Gillard’s 7 May deal to relocate up to 800 new boat arrivals to Malaysia in return for Australia’s acceptance of 4,000 people with granted refugee status. Fr Pettena challenged the government to increase its humanitarian intake.
“It remains essential for Australia to hear asylum seekers when they knock at our door. Concern for the welfare of asylum seekers must not stop at our border”, he said.
“We acknowledge that the policy of sending the next 800 boat arrivals to Malaysia might appear a deterrent for further boat arrivals, however we cannot condone this policy, as essentially ‘swapping human life’ goes against the moral teaching of the Church.”
“While Malaysia appears willing to uphold the key aspect of the Refugee Convention to not return asylum seekers to the origin of danger; this alone does not afford asylum seekers the opportunity of a sustainable life”, he said.
“The burden of irregular migration flows is one which needs to be shared more equally between countries, based on their capacity to care for asylum seekers”, he said.