The Turnbull Government should stop punishing and demonising migrants if it wants to help people settle in Australia, Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Turnbull, Tudge and Dutton should put their money where their mouths are if they want to help migrants settle in Australia,” Senator McKim said.

“They have cut support for asylum seekers, tried to make citizenship more difficult, and consistently embraced the hateful agenda of One Nation.”

The Greens have a plan to protect takayna/the Tarkine in a National Park that is owned and run by Aboriginal Tasmanians.

Greens candidate for Braddon Jarrod Edwards said takayna is a place of incredible importance to Tasmanian Aboriginal people and indeed all people who visit it.

“As custodians of this land we encourage sustainable and well balanced management and use of our home lands so that future generations can enjoy and learn from them as we continue to do,” Mr Edwards said.

Five years of offshore detention is five years too long, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“There are many hundreds of people still suffering on Manus Island and Nauru because of Labor’s cowardice and the Liberals’ cruelty,” Senator McKim said.

“There are children who were born in offshore detention who have spent their whole lives in exile.”

“Labor locked them up, and the Liberals threw away the key.”

“How much longer must people suffer before the bipartisan cruelty of offshore detention is stopped?”

Comments from both Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese confirm Labor has abandoned all compassion on refugee policy, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This confirms Labor’s total capitulation and moral cowardice,” Senator McKim said.

“The figureheads of Labor’s left and right factions are now on a unity ticket with Peter Dutton and Pauline Hanson.”

“There are still hundreds of men, women and children languishing in indefinite offshore detention on Manus Island and Nauru, having been sent there by the Labor Party five years ago.”

The Greens welcome legislation to restrict the circumstances in which family violence survivors can be cross-examined in family law proceedings.

Greens Spokesperson for Women Janet Rice said: “This legislation is a step in the right direction to lessen the trauma of survivors as they go through the court process.”

“Court processes are traumatic and stressful enough as it is, without forcing survivors to face the perpetrator of their abuse in court.”

Greens Justice Spokesperson Nick McKim said: “We welcome the tabling of this legislation.”

The increased use of the Defence Force on Australian streets is deeply concerning, Australian Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Legislation to make it easier to call out the Defence Force is a worrying and dangerous development,” Senator McKim said.

“Yet again, the Government has introduced major national security legislation without demonstrating the need or making the case as to how it would make Australians safer.”

“This is a serious and fundamental change to domestic policing arrangements, and to the way security forces interact with the public.”

The cuts to support for people seeking asylum in Australia are unconscionably cruel and designed to force people into poverty, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Cutting the status resolution support service will force people into poverty, homelessness and exploitative jobs,” Senator McKim said.

“Unfortunately, it is a continuation of Peter Dutton’s determination to punish migrants, particularly refugees and people seeking asylum.”

“To retrospectively punish people in this way is unconscionably cruel.”

The foreign influence and espionage legislation that is being rushed through Parliament will have serious impacts on people’s right to protest and journalism, Greens Justice Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“We are seeing rights, freedoms and liberties in this country ripped away before our very eyes,” Senator McKim said.

“This legislation will criminalise a wide range of peaceful protests and public interest journalism.”

“It will be a significant hindrance of freedom of speech and assembly, and nothing less than the Liberals trying to crack down on dissenting voices.”

Australia has much to lament this World Refugee Day, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“There are still hundreds of men, women and children trapped in detention on Manus Island and Nauru because of Labor and the Liberals’ cruel policies,“ Senator McKim said.

“Meanwhile, Australia’s refugee intake remains completely inadequate.”

“This government is also attacking refugees and people seeking asylum here in Australia by cutting financial support.”

The death of person who sought asylum in Australia but was exiled offshore for five years is a another bloody stain on Australia’s national conscience, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This is yet another life lost due to our country's cruel and inhumane refugee policies," Senator McKim said.

"This tragedy was entirely predictable, yet the Liberals and ALP remain in cruel policy lockstep.”

“Australia’s offshore detention system has been a humanitarian calamity and one of the darkest chapters in our country’s story.”