I would like to take the opportunity to respond to Forbes Gordon’s letter to the editor of 21 November 2014.
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The draft petition Mr Gordon provided me contained inaccurate claims pertaining to the “inhumane treatment of refugees” by the Australian government. I made the decision to dissociate myself with such outrageous and inaccurate statements.
Under the previous government, over 50,000 people arrived by boat with some 1,200 losing their lives at sea. It is my firm belief that an ‘inhumane’ approach would have been to allow this tragedy to continue unabated.
Since we implemented our policies in late December last year just one successful people smuggling venture has arrived while no one has perished at sea.
An MP is under no obligation to present to Parliament any particular petition, and commonly does not. Mr Gordon can lodge his petition directly with the Secretariat of the Standing Committee on Petitions and I am happy to supply him with the relevant contact details.
Dr Peter Hendy
Member for Eden Monaro
Queanbeyan
