Green groups sign-on letter on asylum seekers and population

Letter to the editor
11 February 2002

The current debate about asylum seekers has served to polarise Australian society. It has also renewed debate about what may constitute a long term sustainable human population for Australia. Concern for the environment has often been used as an argument to limit or even reduce immigration, and some within the environment movement have argued for lower population levels in order to decrease environmental impacts.

The following organisations recognise that existing land use patterns, and resource extraction, production and consumption (including greenhouse gas emissions) are the most significant drivers of environmental deterioration in Australia. The debate we need to have as a nation on what may constitute a sustainable population must start with a clear assessment of our current ecological footprint, an acknowledgement that we are over-consuming, and a serious plan for reduction in ecological impacts, irregardless of final population levels. Population growth, while a factor in environmental impact, should not be considered in isolation of these other issues. It is inappropriate to single out immigrants as a potential source of environmental degradation. As Australians, we need to get our own 'house in order' and not seek to blame others for our ecological problems.

Further to this, we understand that Australia, as a nation, is part of a globalised world, with corresponding responsibilities. The current management regimes for asylum seekers are no less than shameful, and impact directly on Australia's international reputation. We call on the federal government to immediately end its policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers, and to move to community-based systems for hosting asylum seekers.

Yours sincerely
Cam Walker,
National Liaison Officer,
Friends of the Earth Australia

On behalf of:

Matt Skellern, National Environment Officer, National Union of Students
Kirsten Blair and Mark Wakeham, Coordinators, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory
Geoff Evans, Director, Mineral Policy Institute, NSW
Chris Chaplin, Immigration Spokesperson, Victorian Greens
Ruth Rosenhek, Rainforest Information Centre, NSW
Dr Martin Mulligan, general editor of Ecopolitics: Thought and Action journal
Jacob Grech, Secretary, Earthworker, the union-green caucus, Vic
Carmel Flint, North East Forest Alliance, NSW
Pamela Curr, Victorian Greens
Scott Alderson & Tom Widdup, Red Hot Green Black
Daniel Beaver, Forest Activist Network NSW
Harry van Moorst, Western Region Environment Centre, Vic
Lee Rhiannon, Greens MP, NSW Parliament
Indra Esguerra, Co-Convenor, Australian Greens
Tom McLoughlin, policy, Ecology Action, Sydney
Melita Grant and Kate Walsh, AID/WATCH, NSW
Chris Richards, New Internationalist magazine, Adelaide
Valerie Thompson, Sustainable Futures Australia
Kerry Nettle, Senator elect, Australian Greens