In December 2019, the first United Nations Global Refugee Forum took place, with member states trying to coordinate a response to the largest global refugee crisis since World War Two. It was the first step towards a necessary international processing and resettlement agreement.
Repressive and failed states, sectarianism, violent conflict, the impacts of climate change and natural disasters will continue to drive new conflict over depleted resources and population displacement. Our current blinkered solutions do not address these impacts. The alternative must be to work towards a new international agreement.
This is why I propose that Australia lead the development and negotiations for an international refugee processing and resettlement agreement – the “Fair Share Agreement” – with multiple countries agreeing to lift their ambitions and resettle hundreds of thousands more refugees each year around the world.
“Tackling this crisis in a meaningful way is no longer a choice. It is a necessity”
Peter Khalil MP, December 9, 2019
Together, we can break this deadlock. But I need you to be a part of it.
Read my speech to the Alfred Deakin Centre in full here
Read my Op-Ed in the Saturday Paper here
Media coverage on this proposal here:
“Australia should lead a new resettlement deal to tackle the global refugee crisis: Labor MP” – SBS Online
“Labor MP calls for Australia to lead global refugee resettlement push” – The Age/SMH