Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
Prime Minister Abbott's announcement that Australia will take 12,000 new asylum seekers from Syria is very welcome, but as a nation, we can do more.
Welcoming 12,000 asylum seekers from war torn Syria and Iraq is a good start, but sending the military in to bomb Syria will only create more misery, more refugees and fan the fires of terrorism as these ill considered military campaigns have in the past.
I am certain the Prime Minister's announcement today will be met with a mixture of relief and dismay from compassionate Tasmanians.
We want to help but few will see the sense in sending in the bombers when resources would be better invested in the massive humanitarian effort required.
On a more positive note, the tripartisan Tasmanian message of welcome to Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers is heart warming. It is good to know that on this very human issue, we can come together as Tasmanians.