23rd Jun 2015, 3:39 PM – Senate Motions — Asylum Seekers

The majority of the Senate voted against Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's motion:

That the Senate—

(a) expresses concern at the disturbing reports aired on the Four Corners television program on 22 June 2015;

(b) notes:

• (i) that only 412 Rohingyans have been resettled in Australia through Australia's humanitarian program since 2008, and
• (ii) the Government's recent refusal to provide assistance or resettlement for Rohingyans currently in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, and stranded at sea off these three countries; and

(c) urges the Government to:

• (i) contribute to the search and rescue mission for thousands of migrants, including Rohingyans, currently stranded at sea,
• (ii) resettle some of the Rohingyan migrants rescued by Indonesia and Malaysia, and
• (iii) resettle an increased number of Rohingyans in the 2015 humanitarian program, increasing the number of the program if necessary.