Teachers oppose refugee plan

 BY JENNA DAROCZY

TEACHERS from St Johns Park Public School converged on the Fairfield office of Immigration Minister and local MP, Chris Bowen, on Monday afternoon to oppose the transfer of unaccompanied minors to Malaysia under the federal government's proposed refugee handling system.

The school's NSW Teachers Federation representative, Marty Wheatley, said teachers had collected nearly 70 signatures from parents collecting their children from school that afternoon alone.

"We're demanding that all children being held in detention be released immediately," he said.

"And at this time, we're just appalled by the suggestion any unaccompanied minors would be sent to Malaysia for processing, it's absolutely unacceptable."

Mr Wheatley said with 92 per cent of students at his school coming from a non-English speaking background, the plight of refugees was close to all their hearts.

"All our students are good kids who want to contribute to Australian society, I think they would be horrified this proposal is even being considered," he said.

Mr Bowen said unaccompanied minors would be assessed on a case-by-case basis to avoid any loopholes for people smugglers.

"I'm concerned about the forgotten people in the debate on asylum seekers — those who lose their lives on the high sea trying to get to places like Australia as well as those who are found to be refugees and wait for years in countries like Malaysia for resettlement in other countries," he said.

"This applies to children just as much as other asylum seekers."