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Morrison video tells asylum seekers: 'smugglers have told you lies' Morrison video tells asylum seekers: 'smugglers have told you lies'
(35 minutes later)
A video of the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, addressing asylum seekers in Nauru and giving an interview to Nauruan television has emerged, showing exactly the message detainees receive about their unsuccessful attempt to seek asylum in Australia by boat.A video of the immigration minister, Scott Morrison, addressing asylum seekers in Nauru and giving an interview to Nauruan television has emerged, showing exactly the message detainees receive about their unsuccessful attempt to seek asylum in Australia by boat.
In the Nauruan TV news story, Morrison tells an unseen group of asylum seekers about the government’s policy – and that they will never set foot in Australia – and outlines the government’s stance against “country shoppers” who seek asylum in Australia to a Nauruan journalist.In the Nauruan TV news story, Morrison tells an unseen group of asylum seekers about the government’s policy – and that they will never set foot in Australia – and outlines the government’s stance against “country shoppers” who seek asylum in Australia to a Nauruan journalist.
The video was posted to the Facebook page of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre by Bronwyn McNamee. “I videoed this from Nauru TV when it was broadcast by Nauru Media when I was there,” she said on the page.The video was posted to the Facebook page of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre by Bronwyn McNamee. “I videoed this from Nauru TV when it was broadcast by Nauru Media when I was there,” she said on the page.
Video of Morrison is interspersed with footage the detainees are apparently watching, showing Australian authorities intercepting asylum-seeker vessels.Video of Morrison is interspersed with footage the detainees are apparently watching, showing Australian authorities intercepting asylum-seeker vessels.
“We are also increasing our police activity in Australia to ensure that anyone who supports anyone getting on a boat, who pays for someone to get on a boat, who makes arrangements for others, will be subject to federal police potentially arresting them and charging them for supporting people smugglers,” says Morrison in English.“We are also increasing our police activity in Australia to ensure that anyone who supports anyone getting on a boat, who pays for someone to get on a boat, who makes arrangements for others, will be subject to federal police potentially arresting them and charging them for supporting people smugglers,” says Morrison in English.
“This whole operation including what you see here … is now under the command of a three-star general. And that general reports to me and I report to the prime minister. So my message is very simple: you will not be getting what you got on that boat for, and anyone else who tries to come will not get what they got on that boat for.“This whole operation including what you see here … is now under the command of a three-star general. And that general reports to me and I report to the prime minister. So my message is very simple: you will not be getting what you got on that boat for, and anyone else who tries to come will not get what they got on that boat for.
“People smugglers have told you lies, and you should tell your friends and families and others who may be thinking of doing the same not to believe those lies, to not get on the boat because you will not get what you came for.”“People smugglers have told you lies, and you should tell your friends and families and others who may be thinking of doing the same not to believe those lies, to not get on the boat because you will not get what you came for.”
A spokeswoman for the ASRC, Pamela Curr, said Morrison’s address was “deeply distressing”. “It’s very clear that the minister for immigration sees his role as creating as harsh a condition as possible for people arriving by boat in order to stop them coming,” she told Guardian Australia.A spokeswoman for the ASRC, Pamela Curr, said Morrison’s address was “deeply distressing”. “It’s very clear that the minister for immigration sees his role as creating as harsh a condition as possible for people arriving by boat in order to stop them coming,” she told Guardian Australia.
“Effectively, this government has decided to excise Australia from the humanitarian world. We are one of the richest, most stable countries in the world, with plentiful land, a small population, and yet we are blocking people from asking for our protection.”“Effectively, this government has decided to excise Australia from the humanitarian world. We are one of the richest, most stable countries in the world, with plentiful land, a small population, and yet we are blocking people from asking for our protection.”
In an interview section of the footage, taking place in an office, a journalist asks Morrison how the transferees took his message. “Hopefully they’ll be taking it in with the full knowledge of what the policy of the government in Australia is now,” Morrison replied.In an interview section of the footage, taking place in an office, a journalist asks Morrison how the transferees took his message. “Hopefully they’ll be taking it in with the full knowledge of what the policy of the government in Australia is now,” Morrison replied.
“We’ve implemented an even broader array of policies and measures to prevent people seeking to come to Australia in the first place. This is the toughest border protection regime Australia has ever put in place.”“We’ve implemented an even broader array of policies and measures to prevent people seeking to come to Australia in the first place. This is the toughest border protection regime Australia has ever put in place.”
Morrison also spoke of the government’s work to prevent “country shoppers” ending up in Australia.Morrison also spoke of the government’s work to prevent “country shoppers” ending up in Australia.
“It’s no surprise people might want to live in Australia … but that’s not what the refugee convention says. The refugee convention puts obligations on countries who sign up to take those who are directly fleeing persecution. When people country shop for a preferred destination I think that goes very much out of the spirit of the convention and the Australian government isn’t going to have a bar of it.”“It’s no surprise people might want to live in Australia … but that’s not what the refugee convention says. The refugee convention puts obligations on countries who sign up to take those who are directly fleeing persecution. When people country shop for a preferred destination I think that goes very much out of the spirit of the convention and the Australian government isn’t going to have a bar of it.”
Guardian Australia contacted the minister’s office and is awaiting a response. A spokesman for Morrison told Guardian Australia the minister addressed detainees on Nauru and also at Manus Island during recent visits "informing them of the government’s border protection policies".
"The government makes no apologies for its policies to stop illegal boat arrivals which stop people drowning at sea," he said. 
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