Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I just said. I'll take Senator Macdonald's interjection. The UnitedNations and Human Rights Watch define this as a humanitarian crisis.

More than a week ago we saw water, electricity and food supplies cut off. People have been told, 'You need to move out,' but we know from the UNHCR that the reported facilities that were supposed to be ready are not fit for human habitation. But that, of course, is not the major issue. The major issue is that we are asking people to come out of that detention centre and go into an environment where there are a number of people in the local community who simply don't want them there and who are prepared to use violence to resolve this conflict. The fear of these individuals is real.

I pay tribute to Senator McKim for having the bravery and the courage to go there and bear witness to what's going on. Senator McKim stands like a beacon in this place for being prepared to bear witness. It's remarkable that people in this place would accuse Senator McKim and others of inciting violence, as though these individuals have no agency and no capacity or, because these are people who are coming from another culture, somehow they're not capable of making their own decisions. It is remarkable. The time has come for us to accept, at the very least, New Zealand's offer of generosity to take those 150 people, and to ditch the deal with the US. For God's sake, let's show a bit of humanity and a bit of decency. Why can't we bring them here? Why can't we offer these people safety?