Our new Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil, has the power to bring home Australians, who are stuck in refugee camps in Syria.
Save the Children has estimated that more than 60 Australians, including 47 children, are located across the Al-Hol and Roj camps. Many are family members of men who travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight for the so-called ‘Islamic State’.
During the recent election, then ALP spokesperson for Home Affairs, Kristina Keneally, pressed the Department of Home Affairs for answers on when the Australians would be repatriated. But since forming government, there has been no official word on when this will happen. Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, refused to let families return during his time as Home Affairs Minister.
The situation is desperate, and these Australians must be brought home.
UPDATE: Good news!
We welcome and appreciate Clare O’Neil’s commitment to repatriate women and children stranded in Syrian refugee camps.
We understand this may take time, but it’s good to know your government is prepared to prioritise humanitarian action in these unfortunate circumstances.