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Another voice joins call for refugee increase

Author
Felix Marwick ,
Publish Date
Mon, 17 Aug 2015, 10:47AM
A Syrian refugee (Getty Images)
A Syrian refugee (Getty Images)

Another voice joins call for refugee increase

Author
Felix Marwick ,
Publish Date
Mon, 17 Aug 2015, 10:47AM

UPDATED 6.30pm: A Parliamentary Select Committee has joined the chorus calling for New Zealand to increase its refugee quota.

The current quota of 750 people a year hasn't been increased since 1987, a decision that's been criticised by numerous NGOs and groups representing refugees.

Now Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee is expressing similar sentiments.

In considering a petition on the plight of the Christian minority in Syria, the committee has described the urgency of the global refugee crisis as unprecedented.

It says in light of this situation, and the fact New Zealand's refugee quota hasn't been changed for 28 years, it's asking the Government to urgently consider its ability to raise the quota.

Committee Chair Mark Mitchell says they're recognising the fact the global situation is changing in terms of the new threats that we face.

"We just felt there was some scope there for it to be reviewed in the future," Mitchell said.

Amnesty International says New Zealand's performing terribly when it comes to reaching out to refugee.  

The group said it's facing its biggest refugee crises since World War II.

Executive Director Grant Bayldon said while we like to think we 'punch above our weight' on international affairs, our refugee quota trails far behind.

"When we compare that even to a country like Australia, for all its faults in the way that it handles refugees, New Zealand only takes one fifth as many as Australia on a per capita basis."

"The numbers coming in here are really tiny.  Clearly this is an area where New Zealand needs to be doing its fair share and can be doing more."

 

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