WA: Dr Lawrence calls for respect towards refugees
PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - The federal government and community needed to show greater understandingtowards refugees, former West Australian premier Carmen Lawrence said today.
She said it was time to show more compassion and greater understanding to the needsof refugees, including ensuring that Australia's policies reflected decency, respect andgenerosity to those in need.
Dr Lawrence, federal member for Fremantle, was speaking at the WA Division of the UnitedNational Association of Australia (UNAAWA) annual general meeting in Perth.
Later, Dr Lawrence told AAP she believed strongly in the work of the United Nations.
"The UN can provide a forum to discuss issues for resolution rather than allowing thosedifferences to be settled through violence and people should applaud that and not be criticalof it.
"...We need to do what we can to avoid war and how we can curb the arms trade whichresults in many unnecessary deaths around the world."
She was also greatly concerned about global inequalities.
"We need to find ways and means of helping others become self sufficient and not relyingso heavily on aid," she said.
"People say that can not be done but I want others to know that I think it can."
UNAAWA honorary secretary Lindsay Dorman said he asked Dr Lawrence to speak at themeeting because not only was she a prominent member of parliament, she was also an inspirationto those with a social conscience.
AAP ajm/drp
KEYWORD: REFUGEES
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