Anglican Church leader calls for action on refugees

 Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Peter Carnley says the Federal Government should consider alternatives to mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

 Archbishop Carnley was speaking at a media conference before the start of the church’s General Synod (July 21 to 27) in Brisbane today.

 “It seems as though Australia isn’t treating asylum seekers and refugees terribly well,” Archbishop Carnley said. 

“We need to look at other nations and consider alternatives to detention centres. 

“I understand plenty of other countries release asylum seekers into the community who are then required to report back to authorities on a regular basis.”

Archbishop Carnley said the use of electronic tagging for asylum seekers could be an alternative to mandatory detention.

“I’ve looked at the idea of electronic tagging in New York and despite it being expensive, it is probably no more expensive than current measures,” Archbishop Carnley said.

Archbishop of Adelaide, Ian George, and the Federal Minister for Immigration, Philip Ruddock, will both give presentations on asylum seekers at the General Synod on Friday at 11am (AEST).

The General Synod will also on Friday consider a resolution challenging the Federal Government to review the plight of temporary protection visa holders and living arrangements for detained asylum seekers.

The General Synod is the triennial meeting of the church’s 250 leaders.