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immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the government was deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Iraq.
The Abbott government will include Syrian and Iraqi Christians fleeing slaughter by Islamic State terrorists among 4000 refugees it will take a year under its humanitarian intake.
The Abbott government has freed up 4000 places inside the annual humanitarian intake of 13,750 refugees due to the drop-off in arrivals by boat.
The new spots will include places for Iraqi and Syrian Christians, including Yazidi people in Iraq who face slaughter by the Islamic State army.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the government was deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Iraq.
“The Abbott government has freed up more than 4000 special humanitarian program resettlement places each year for offshore applicants in need of resettlement due to their desperate circumstances, including Iraqi and Syrian Christians who have been impacted by these terrible conflicts,’’ he said.
“My department is closely monitoring the situation and considering options under the offshore humanitarian program to assist the victims of this crisis.’’
Mr Morrison, who was put in charge of “stopping the boats”, has long argued that lowering the numbers of people arriving by sea would enable the government to take refugees from some countries and refugee camps around the world.
Under the 4000 places now freed up, refugees in camps elsewhere would also be taken. Australia took 1000 Syrian refugees last year.
If Australia accepts the Iraqis and Syrians in large numbers, it would rival that humanitarian action of the former prime minister John Howard who granted safe-haven status to 4000 Kosovars in 1999.
However, the Kosovars, fleeing war-torn Yugoslavia,were only allowed to stay temporarily and were sent home when that conflict ended.
In London for a briefing on the Iraqi situation, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the situation facing the Yazidi people was “potential genocide”.
“Australia should do what it can. We should do what we can, to protect people from potential genocide.’’
Mr Morrison gave the commitment on the same day the new Anglican primate of Australia called on the government to offer asylum to Christians under threat in Iraq.
Speaking at his installation, Philip Freier, the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, said he had written to Mr Abbott and Mr Morrison urging them to copy the actions of the French who have offered asylum to Christians.
His call was backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend Justin Welby, who was in Melbourne for the ceremony.
The Greens also called on the government to offer asylum to the Christians.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called for an emergency increase to the annual humanitarian intake.
“No time for excuses. The Abbott government needs to offer genuine humanitarian assistance by giving protection to Iraqi refugees, an emergency increase to the Australian humanitarian intake to help offer safety to Iraqi refugees and moratorium on returning those already here.” Your thoughts?’’ she tweeted.
Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles said there were grounds for offering asylum to those being targeted.
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Australia to accept Syrian and Iraqi Christians
