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Peter Dutton leaves open possibility of Australia taking more refugees Peter Dutton leaves open possibility of Australia taking more refugees
(34 minutes later)
The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has indicated that Australia will consider doing more to help refugees fleeing the war-torn Middle East as senior members of the federal government hosted a community forum in Canberra on the resettlement of Syrian refugees.The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has indicated that Australia will consider doing more to help refugees fleeing the war-torn Middle East as senior members of the federal government hosted a community forum in Canberra on the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
On Tuesday the government announced Australia would take 12,000 extra Syrian and Iraqi refugees on top of the existing overall humanitarian quota of 13,750.On Tuesday the government announced Australia would take 12,000 extra Syrian and Iraqi refugees on top of the existing overall humanitarian quota of 13,750.
Related: Donate cash if you want to help Syrian refugees, aid groups sayRelated: Donate cash if you want to help Syrian refugees, aid groups say
The first lot of refugees, processed through the United Nation’s refugee agency from countries surrounding Syria, will resettle in Australia by Christmas.The first lot of refugees, processed through the United Nation’s refugee agency from countries surrounding Syria, will resettle in Australia by Christmas.
Dutton left the door open for Australia to do more.Dutton left the door open for Australia to do more.
“This problem will be with us for many years to come,” he told ABC Radio. “We’ll have to assess in due course what the next wave of assistance will be.”“This problem will be with us for many years to come,” he told ABC Radio. “We’ll have to assess in due course what the next wave of assistance will be.”
A number of community and religious organisations, as well as resettlement service providers, met at parliament house to discuss the needs of the incoming refugees, and how best to harness the public goodwill that has emerged as a response to the humanitarian crisis in Europe.A number of community and religious organisations, as well as resettlement service providers, met at parliament house to discuss the needs of the incoming refugees, and how best to harness the public goodwill that has emerged as a response to the humanitarian crisis in Europe.
Guardian Australia understands the federal government will shortly announce the formation of a new taskforce that will sit within the Refugee Resettlement Council. The council will meet next week, with Red Cross joining the body for the first time.Guardian Australia understands the federal government will shortly announce the formation of a new taskforce that will sit within the Refugee Resettlement Council. The council will meet next week, with Red Cross joining the body for the first time.
In the opening address of the summit, Abbott reiterated the government’s decision to focus on persecuted minorities.In the opening address of the summit, Abbott reiterated the government’s decision to focus on persecuted minorities.
“Obviously the Australian government has no wish to see anyone fleeing anywhere,” he told the meeting. “But given that people are fleeing, it is very important that we focus on those persecuted minorities, on women, children, and families, because they are the most vulnerable people in a conflict such as this.”“Obviously the Australian government has no wish to see anyone fleeing anywhere,” he told the meeting. “But given that people are fleeing, it is very important that we focus on those persecuted minorities, on women, children, and families, because they are the most vulnerable people in a conflict such as this.”
Questions were raised by Middle Eastern church groups about how the government would define “persecuted minority”.Questions were raised by Middle Eastern church groups about how the government would define “persecuted minority”.
Abbott said Australia would work with the UN high commissioner for refugees, but that the final decision on who was granted a humanitarian visa would lie with the government.Abbott said Australia would work with the UN high commissioner for refugees, but that the final decision on who was granted a humanitarian visa would lie with the government.
About 70% of the intake – equal to 8400 refugees – would be from persecuted minorities, Dutton said during a press conference after the rmeeting. The government would use the “same definition as in the past” to determine who was classified as a persecuted minority.About 70% of the intake – equal to 8400 refugees – would be from persecuted minorities, Dutton said during a press conference after the rmeeting. The government would use the “same definition as in the past” to determine who was classified as a persecuted minority.
Islamic groups have criticised the government for choosing to prioritise Christian refugees, saying many Muslims were also persecuted in the Middle East.Islamic groups have criticised the government for choosing to prioritise Christian refugees, saying many Muslims were also persecuted in the Middle East.
The social services minister, Scott Morrison, told Sky News that only one-quarter of the 8000 Syrian refugees already resettled in Australia were Muslim.The social services minister, Scott Morrison, told Sky News that only one-quarter of the 8000 Syrian refugees already resettled in Australia were Muslim.
“The evidence is that persecuted minorities, and that doesn’t exclusively relate to Christians but it is predominantly Christians, we should be honest about that, they are the groups that have dominated our intake over the first two years of our government,” he said.“The evidence is that persecuted minorities, and that doesn’t exclusively relate to Christians but it is predominantly Christians, we should be honest about that, they are the groups that have dominated our intake over the first two years of our government,” he said.
The executive director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Hass Dellal said that Australia’s humanitarian program should continue to be non-discriminatory.“When the world’s conscience was pricked by those tragic photos of the young toddler Alan Kurdi washed up on the beach in Turkey, no one questioned whether he was Christian or Muslim. He was a human being,” Dellal told Guardian Australia.
“The conversation has recently moved to being framed in terms of religion and race. This undermines the goodwill of our actions by creating further division. In fact, it mirrors the reasons that people are fleeing.”
A number of large, well-established Muslim organisations were either excluded from Friday’s community meeting or shunned it as tensions between the organisations and the government remain high.A number of large, well-established Muslim organisations were either excluded from Friday’s community meeting or shunned it as tensions between the organisations and the government remain high.
The relationship has been fraught since February, when Abbott chided Muslim leadership in Australia for not doing enough to stamp out radicalisation.The relationship has been fraught since February, when Abbott chided Muslim leadership in Australia for not doing enough to stamp out radicalisation.
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, whose responsibilities as parliamentary secretary to the social services minister take in the multiculturalism portfolio, played down suggestions of a rift.Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, whose responsibilities as parliamentary secretary to the social services minister take in the multiculturalism portfolio, played down suggestions of a rift.
She had “literally gone door to door” to hear the views of Muslim groups.She had “literally gone door to door” to hear the views of Muslim groups.
“In recent months I have written to all Muslim groups in this country and I am, one by one, visiting them all around Australia, and that is an ongoing process,” Fierravanti-Wells said.“In recent months I have written to all Muslim groups in this country and I am, one by one, visiting them all around Australia, and that is an ongoing process,” Fierravanti-Wells said.
Morrison said Muslim refugees could come to Australia as part of the special humanitarian program, which allowed for family reunion and community-sponsored visas.Morrison said Muslim refugees could come to Australia as part of the special humanitarian program, which allowed for family reunion and community-sponsored visas.
Labor wanted the government to resettle the 12,000 Syrians within the financial year, but Morrison has rejected that.Labor wanted the government to resettle the 12,000 Syrians within the financial year, but Morrison has rejected that.
“This will take as long as it takes,” he said. “You don’t rush this. You do it properly, because that’s what gets the best outcomes.”“This will take as long as it takes,” he said. “You don’t rush this. You do it properly, because that’s what gets the best outcomes.”
Many churches and community groups in Australia have put their hands up to help with resettlement, either though offering accommodation, services or expertise.Many churches and community groups in Australia have put their hands up to help with resettlement, either though offering accommodation, services or expertise.
“I call on all Uniting church members wherever they are to do whatever they can to support the resettlement efforts. Congregations and presbyteries should think about how they might mobilise to ‘adopt a family’ and support them in their practical and human needs,” the church’s president, Stuart McMillan, said.“I call on all Uniting church members wherever they are to do whatever they can to support the resettlement efforts. Congregations and presbyteries should think about how they might mobilise to ‘adopt a family’ and support them in their practical and human needs,” the church’s president, Stuart McMillan, said.