With the release of A New Approach, Breaking the Stalemate on Refugees and Asylum Seekersand the full High Court hearing of a legal challenge to the Gillard government’s Malaysia Solution, 30 well known Australians, including former Liberal Leader John Hewson, scientist Sir Gustav Nossal, playwright David Williamson, violinist Richard Tognetti, novelist Thomas Keneally, Heather Ridout, Michael Chaney and Janet Holmes a Court, along with the ACTU president, Ged Kearney, have come out in support of CPD’s asylum seekers policy that would have mandatory detention phased out within two years and Australia’s intake of refugees significantly increased over five years.

For CPD Board Director John Menadue, Ausralia needs to overcome it’s “collective paranoia” to achieve sensible decision-making in the asylum seeker domain.

today will coincide with the start of a full High Court hearing of a legal challenge to the Gillard government’s controversial ”people swap” agreement with Malaysia.