Australia is last country Thailand should consult on refugee problem
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During Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julia Bishop's visit to Thailand on Friday it was announced that Australia would join a regional summit on the refugee problem, to be hosted by Thailand.
Inviting Australia to a regional forum on refugee problems is akin to the farmer consulting the fox on how to protect his chickens.
Australia has an appalling record on the treatment of refugees, particularly under the current Abbott administration.
Australia has an appalling record on the treatment of refugees, particularly under the current Abbott administration.
Refugees, including pregnant women and children, are arbitrarily imprisoned in detention camps on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and in Nauru. These are administered by a civilian contractor and conditions have been described in some cases as resembling concentration camps.
Don’t be surprised if Australia’s interest in this refugee summit is to make a bid to use the jungle camps found on the Thai-Malaysia border as another “overseas” solution to its own problems.
David Brown
