‘Cruel’: Greens leader slams Labor’s short-term visa pause amid Middle East conflict
Greens leader Larissa Waters criticized Labor for granting asylum to members of Iran’s women’s football team while denying others amid conflict in the Middle East, saying it was “cynical and cruel”.
On Tuesday Labor introduced legislation that would allow the Home Secretary to pause visas for groups of people seeking asylum while already in Australia amid conflict in the Middle East.
As part of the new legislation, the government will be able to temporarily ban an entire group of people from claiming asylum when they arrive in Australia for holiday or business events.
The move came after the Albanian government granted humanitarian visas to five players from the Iranian women’s football team after they competed in the Asian Women’s Cup. Two other players and two officials are understood to have also sought asylum and remain in Australia.
The remaining players and staff returned to Iran on Wednesday.
Speaking to the ABC on Wednesday, Greens senator Larissa Waters said the move to temporarily block other asylum seekers was “cynical and cruel”.
“We really welcomed that our country gave asylum to a handful of young football players and young women who can now be safe here,” he said.
“But how cynical and how cruel it is that on the same day our government protects these young women, it closes the door to thousands of Iranians around the world who already have valid visas and are already entitled to enter Australia.”
He said Home Secretary Tony Burke’s move to welcome Iranian footballers was “hypocritical”.
“The minister said he was freezing all visas for six months, just at a time when these people need our help,” he said.
“This was the most hypocritical and morally bankrupt move this government has ever made, helping a handful of people and closing the door on thousands in the same day.”
Deputy Minister Julian Hill told parliament on Tuesday that the legislation would protect the “integrity and sustainability” of the country.
“The current situation in the Middle East shows how quickly circumstances can change which may affect whether temporary visa holders are able to fulfill this temporary purpose in Australia, including whether they leave Australia,” he said.
“In these circumstances, it is vital that the government responds appropriately, including by imposing temporary limits on the ability of certain groups and non-citizens to travel to Australia.”
