Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 830 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the recent survey conducted by the Australian Red Cross on community attitudes towards asylum seekers and refugees, and

(ii)

that this survey found that 67 per cent agreed that refugees have made a positive contribution to Australian society, while 83 per cent agreed that people fleeing persecution should be able to seek protection in another country;

(b)

recognises that an overwhelming majority of asylum seekers that arrive by boat have historically been found to be genuine refugees; and

(c)

calls on all sides of politics to recognise the positive contribution that refugees have made and continue to make to the diversity of our nation.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The government will support this motion provided that paragraph (b) reads: ‘recognises that an overwhelming majority of asylum seekers that arrive by boat have historically been found to be genuine refugees’. I have not seen the motion as circulated.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, the terms read out by Senator O’Brien are correct. My understanding is that it was given to the whip’s office.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, it was, but it was not circulated in the chamber.

Question agreed to.