Community pressure forces Abbot back down but Syrians still locked up on Nauru and Manus

Community pressure has forced the Abbott Government to give permanent protection to 12,000 people seeking asylum from the war in Syria, as well as a small humanitarian aid contribution.

Australians deserve to be very proud of the way they have come together and demanded the Government show compassion to the people of Syria.

It is a welcome first step but there is much more we can and should be doing to help people around the globe in need of safety.

The Government can and should be taking in more people and we can and should be providing more support to people living in refugee camps so they aren’t forced to seek asylum elsewhere.

We also call on the Government to again listen to Australians and immediately remove people from detention on Nauru and Manus Island.

There are Syrian people currently locked up on Nauru and Manus – people who fled the same deadly war as the 11 million other Syrians currently looking for safety across the Middle East and Europe.

It is unacceptable that we offer permanent protection to some people, yet turn our backs on people locked up in Australian-run detention centres where children and women have been sexually abused and one man has been murdered.

Tony Abbott and his colleagues have today proved they have the ability to open their hearts and show compassion to people in need of safety.

We call on them to let that compassion guide them to do the right thing by the people they have locked up in detention.