Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Morrison:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugees Convention) states that ‘contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin’;

(b)

the Government suspended the processing of asylum seeker applications from Afghanistan on 9 April 2010; and

(c)

there are more than 5000 persons currently being detained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on the mainland and Christmas Island; and

(2)

calls for the:

(a)

immediate lifting of the discriminatory suspension of processing of claims by Afghan asylum seekers;

(b)

immediate processing of asylum claims of all Afghans held in detention; and

(c)

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to provide subclass 449 safe haven visas to successful refugees, to accommodate potential changes in refugee status resulting from changed conditions in the country of origin.

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