Gillian Triggs Urges Malcolm Turnbull To Scrap Offshore Processing Of Asylum Seekers

The Turnbull Government faces mounting pressure to act on offshore detention.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs will meet with the PM this Friday to present her case for a "rights-based" alternative to offshore processing on Nauru and Manus Island.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has just released a blueprint detailing several alternatives to the current detention regime. The report supports increasing the resettlement program and a regional refugee protection framework.

It also encourages a "rights-based" approach that "prioritises safety of life at sea and pathways to durable solutions."

The blueprint comes at a rather turbulent time, but hopes to offer ethical and pragmatic solutions.

A month ago, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirmed Manus Island detention centre will be closed in accordance with rulings by the PNG Supreme Court, which found the detention centre to be unconstitutional.

Despite pledging their closure, Dutton was unable to offer any details on the future of the detainees, but was adamant they would not be resettled in Australia, leaving the obvious question: Where are they going to go?

Several other revelations have emerged recently, putting further pressure on the Turnbull Government.

The Nauru Files revealed the scale of abuse inflicted upon detainees, and just yesterday, we discovered the true cost of offshore detention: a staggering $9.6 billion since 2013.

In an interview with Fairfax Media Professor Triggs said, "It's indefinite detention with no solution and I see no other alternative at the moment to bringing them to Australia and integrating them," adding, "the international response to Australia's policy of third country processing suggests that our reputation as a welcoming and rights-respecting nation is being eroded while we maintain this approach".

Human rights group Save the Children is also demanding immediate action from the Government to resettle roughly 250 children and to drastically increase its humanitarian intake.

The Australian Senate has also launched an official investigation into allegations of abuse, neglect and incidences of self harm reported by asylum seekers on both Nauru and Manus Island.

Your move, Turnbull and Co.

Photo: YouTube - University of Canberra.