July 09, 2010
Source: Herald Sun
A CAMBODIAN-born state Labor MP has slammed Prime Minister Julia Gillard for using asylum seekers as political playdough.
In an email to a concerned constituent, copied to state Labor MPs, Clayton MP Hong Lim said he felt shame over the ALP's treatment of asylum seekers.
Mr Lim, who is a special adviser to Premier John Brumby on Victoria-Asia business relations, said his community and party should be standing up for people fleeing danger.
"I hang my head in shame as a leader of the Cambodian community, as a member of the ALP, as an MP, as an Australian, as a human being ... to see political expediency being played out so cruelly and so unconscionably even among our Party!" he said in the email.
Mr Lim went further when describing Liberal Party policy, however, saying the Opposition treats boat people worse than animals.
Mr Lim, who was elected to State Parliament in 1996, said Victoria would not be what it was today without the humane treatment of asylum seekers.
"There would not be a successful settlement of the Indo-Chinese community had they been treated the way the present day refugees and asylum seekers have been so cruelly treated," the email said.
Mr Lim told the Herald Sun he did not wish to comment further as it was "very much a federal matter".
"It is a personal view only, expressed privately to his colleagues."
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