The Stream

Australians lambast Abbott asylum policies with #IStandWithTheUN

PM Abbott’s criticism of UN report on Australian asylum policies generates angry response.

#IStandWithTheUN and #ThingsAusIsSickOf are trending in Australia after Prime Minister Tony Abbott attacked a UN report criticising the country’s asylum policies. Responding to the report on Monday, Abbott said Australians “are sick of being lectured to by the United Nations, particularly given that we have stopped the boats”. 

The report found the policy of redirecting boats of asylum seekers to offshore detention centres violated the UN Convention Against Torture, which Australia signed in 1985.

Abbott added that ending the smuggling route that caused the deaths of hundreds at sea was the “most humanitarian, the most decent, the most compassionate thing you can do”. He also claimed the needs of all asylum seekers in the Manus Island detention centre are being met. 

Many Australians disagreed with Abbott’s comments: 

Published On 9 Mar 2015