Morrison hits back over racism claims

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Created on Monday, 04 March 2013 17:41

Written by Editorial staff

Shadow minister for immigration and citizenship Scott Morrison has returned fire over what he says are baseless accusations of racism.

The Coalition frontbencher has come under fire for proposing that when any asylum seekers are out in the community on bridging immigration visas, the local neighbourhood should be informed.

Referring to the current government's "hear no truth, see no truth, speak no truth" approach on border policy, Mr Morrison told 2GB's Ray Hadley that those who dare to speak up about the failure of Labor are vilified and labelled racist.

He explained: "It's just straight out - I remember three years ago ... when we were talking and we'd say that if the government keeps going down this path, people will die on boats - people called us racists."

Since the 2010 election, the government has seen a $5 billion blowout in its border policy - a phenomenon that was predicted by the Coalition before it occurred.

The Coalition called for residents to be notified of asylum seekers in their areas after allegations of an indecent assault were leveled at an immigrant who was one of a group of men living at accommodation at Macquarie University and the University of Western Sydney.

The Green Party has criticised the approach, with Sarah Hanson Young telling the ABC that Ray Hadley is being irresponsible for echoing Mr Morrison's sentiments.

This is despite revelations that up to 20 men were housed in squalid conditions in Parramatta.

After Ray Hadley brought to light the fact that those men were sharing one toilet, one shower, while sleeping on the floor with no fridge - they have subsequently been moved after this information was made public.

"Well that's true and that's not an isolated incident. There was a similar incident up in Brisbane last year where people were in an old office building," Mr Morrison said.

It comes as the shadow spokesperson spent the weekend up in Manus Island, inspecting facilities if becomes the minister for immigration and citizenship.

Mr Morrison noted that the trip had to be privately funded because the government were not interested in facilitating the visit. He praised the assistance of the High Commission, which he said will come in handy if the Coalition are elected to government in September.