Two Australian MPs' absence from the House of Representatives temporarily allowed a Greens motion - to accept New Zealand's offer to take Manus Island refugees - to pass.
Refugees on Manus Island protest at the centre in late November. They have since been removed. Photo: supplied
The Green Party motion calling on the government to accept New Zealand's offer to resettle 150 refugees, was initially passed by 73 votes to 72 because two government MPs were absent.
Melbourne Green MP, who put the motion, tweeted his disappointment that the goverment was able to rescind the passed motion.
"One gov MP just said he missed a vote on Manus because he was 'detained'. Try going to Manus, Minister, and find out what detention looks like. If you can't be bothered to turn up and vote for liberty, then get out of Parliament," he wrote.
One gov MP just said he missed a vote on Manus because he was ‘detained’. Try going to Manus, Minister, and find out what detention looks like. If you can’t be bothered to turn up and vote for liberty, then get out of Parliament. And take this rotten government with you.
— Adam Bandt ️ (@AdamBandt) December 4, 2017
The vote of those who turned up was clear. The House voted for my motion to back Senate in calling on gov to accept NZ refugee offer. If the best a minister can muster is that he missed a vote about Manus because he was ‘detained’, he and his gov don’t deserve to be in office.
— Adam Bandt ️ (@AdamBandt) December 4, 2017
Sadly, after pulling a procedural trick, gov just defeated - by one vote - Parl’s push to get gov to accept the NZ refugee deal. We will keep fighting to stop this gov’s crimes on Manus.
— Adam Bandt ️ (@AdamBandt) December 4, 2017
The people are speaking and their voice is getting louder.
Evacuate Manus now.
The Guardian reported manager of government business Christopher Pyne had to scramble to re-stage the vote once the missing pair returned to the chamber.
A refugee on Manus Island today told RNZ detainees were still living in harsh conditions more than a week after they were forcibly removed from the shut-down detention centre.
Kurdish journalist and refugee, Behrouz Boochani, said conditions were worse than at the old centre.
