COOK MP Scott Morrison has asserted his personal ownership of the federal government’s tough asylum seeker policies while dismissing another protest rally outside his Cronulla office.
‘‘The facts are that, under my policies, there has not been a single successful people-smuggling venture to Australia in more than six months,’’ the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection said in a statement to the Leader.
‘‘This is saving lives at sea and is saving taxpayers more than $2.5billion. The alternative is to allow the cost, chaos and tragedy to return — I won’t be doing that.”
Rally organisers said 350 to 400 people took part on Saturday. The rally started in Monro Park before a march through the plaza to Mr Morrison’s office.
Protesters called for ‘‘justice’’ for Reza Barati, who was killed on Manus Island, and an end to offshore processing of asylum seekers.
Mr Morrison repeated his previous statements that ‘‘people are always welcome to visit the shire, provided they behave themselves’’.
‘‘It is a free country and they are entitled to express their views,’’ he said.
‘‘I hope they took the time to spend some money in our local economy as well.’’
Several speakers at the rally condemned big increases in cash incentives offered to asylum seekers to return home.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the payments were a ‘‘shoddy bribe’’ and the government should instead be protecting asylum seekers with temporary refugee status.
‘‘Payments have been offered for a long time and used to be about $2000 for everyone,’’ he said.
‘‘However, after the death of Reza Barati, they have been increased three times.’’
Fairfax Media revealed Lebanese asylum seekers were being offered $10,000, Iranians $7000, Afghans $4000 and Nepalese, Burmese and Sudanese $3300.
A spokesman for Mr Morrison said all returns were voluntary and offers were tailored to individual cases.
‘‘Voluntary return is conducted in direct partnership with the International Organisation for Migration,’’ he said.
NO DISRUPTION
There was no disruption to businesses during the hour-long protest in Cronulla Plaza, said an organiser, Ian Rintoul.
‘‘There is a coffee shop [beneath Scott Morrison’s first-floor office] but we kept a little area clear and there was no overt animosity or objections from shopkeepers,’’ he said.
Mr Rintoul said some people called out encouragement as the protesters marched to the MP’s office.
Do you think the protesters are wasting their time?
