Transcript
Amy Frew: This is actually one of the most significant UN bodies in that the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is one of the two founding covenants of the UN. And this is a five yearly review they've done of Australia's compliance with the convention that we signed up to many years ago now. And they're expressing alarm at the approach Australia is taking to people seeking asylum and in particular those who sought asylum by boat.
Ben Robinson Drawbridge: Is this an expression of alarm or could we describe this as censure?
AF: Yeah, I think you're right. The UN is a body, and when they use the word alarm I think that's a lot more alarming, so to speak, than other types of bodies, they need to speak very carefully. But I think what we've seen is so many instances of the UN calling on Australia to cease the abusive policies that have been going on now for almost four years. And the other part is to bring those people, who've been on Nauru and Manus for nearly four years, bring them to Australia to safety.
BRD: Are there any other avenues open to the UN apart from expressing alarm?
AF: The UN doesn't have an enforceable - there's no sort of world police. But I think what's important to keep in mind in these types of, I think you what can characterise as censures, is that Australia - we want to be part of the UN. At the moment, we're putting a lot of resources and energy into trying to be a member of the (UN) Human Rights Council and that will be decided by a vote in October. So we want to be a part of this rules based system, we've seen it work very much to our advantage in the past when a plane was shot down over Russia a few years ago. The UN and that kind of international cooperation and law making was so essential in our government's response to that. But yet, it seems like at the moment we think we can cherry pick. And I think as it leads up to the vote in October, it become increasingly more important that Australia does look to be compliant with the values that we signed up to.
BRD: Is there a danger that Australia's model of offshore processing of asylum seekers could spread to other countries?
AF: We're already seeing what's being called a Fortress Europe approach where countries that have accepted and entered into the Refugees Convention are locking their borders and forcing people back. What a terrible indictment on Australia that we're world leaders in human rights abuses in this area and I think that's something that the Australian government in the lead up to this bid especially, but more generally, really needs to address.
