Environment Minister - Australia To "Stand By" For Climate Refugees - Age [View All]

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Australia will not turn its back on its neighbours should environmental disasters strike the Pacific islands, federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell says. A CSIRO report has raised concerns that millions of Asia-Pacific people will be left homeless in the next 40 years because of climate change. The findings have prompted peak aid agencies to call on Australia to reassess its immigration program so that more environmental refugees are allowed into the country.

Senator Campbell said the focus in helping Pacific nations cope with climate change should be economic, and that the government's primary responsibility is to work with its Pacific neighbours to ensure they can stay in their homes. But he said Australia would not shut the door on environmental refugees if a major disaster struck. "The Australian government's focus is ensuring these countries have got strong economies and they are resilient in themselves," Senator Campbell told AAP. "Australia, however, has always stood by our Pacific neighbours in times of need and that will never change."

The Australian Greens said today that because Australia was culpable for global warming, accepting environmental refugees should be a priority. "There is no more delinquent and culpable government in the western world than the Howard government," Greens senator Bob Brown told reporters.

"This is another major issue coming like a tsunami to the whole world - the disastrous economic, environmental and social consequences of global change."

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/australia-to-stand-by-climate-refugees/2006/10/09/1160246047256.html