NSW: Unionists flag tough campaign to soften refugee policy

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2001
NSW: Unionists flag tough campaign to soften refugee policy

Unionists say Federal Labor must take a more humanitarian approach to refugees and
stop the federal government shipping boatpeople to off-shore detention camps.

NSW Labour Council secretary JOHN ROBERTSON has called on the ALP's grassroots supporters
and all senior officials to change their thinking.

Mr ROBERTSON says Labor polled its lowest primary vote since World War II at the last
election, which was overshadowed by the boat people issue.

Labor has been criticised for closely following the Coalition's hardline stance on
boat people which has seen them intercepted and sent to Nauru for processing.

Writing on behalf of the new Labor for Refugees group, Mr ROBERTSON has flagged a rigorous
campaign to encourage unionists to change Labor's thinking through grassroots community
education and new policies for the party.

He says the Labor Council is supporting the initiative because it believes it has a
responsibility to promote principled polices within the party.

AAP RTV gmw/psm/

KEYWORD: BOAT NSW (SYDNEY)

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