Refugee quota welcome

I’m pleased the Coalition Government has agreed to lift the refugee quota to 1500 in 2020. It’s a still a small number, but it’s at least moving upwards. And we’ll do it well. The refugees we do take will be treated with respect.

Obviously there’s a cost to the Government and ultimately all of us who pay taxes. But plenty of studies point to the positive economic contribution refugees go on to make. Because they’re likely to be highly motivated to work hard and succeed in their new country.

Evaluating refugees in dollar terms, however, isn’t the clinching argument for a humane refugee policy.

For me, it’s an investment in global consciousness and international co-operation that might just prevent another world war. Retreating into our own country’s concerns will only contribute to making the world a more dangerous place.

Good global citizenship is a principle that a small country like New Zealand needs to help nurture. Which means matching words with actions.

There’s no way the Prime Minister was going to sprinkle her stardust at the UN General Assembly in New York without having an increase in refugee numbers in her pocket.

Winston Peters knew that, and no doubt used it to gain something for his party and constituency of voters. That’s politics under MMP.

With some credibility, Jacinda now has an opportunity to speak on the world stage about the refugee crisis that’s affecting 68.5 million people. A figure only likely to worsen as global warming bites some regions of the world.

I hope she has something positive to say about the UN-drafted document tabled at the General Assembly which outlines a “global compact on refugees”.

What this document raises in principle is the idea that the refugee crisis needs to be dealt with by all the world’s countries in a coordinated and even-handed way. Not left to individual countries who happen to be next door to a war zone or a country experiencing extreme drought.

A good example is Jordan, which is having to cope with 650,000 refugees from neighbouring Syria. 89 per 1000 people in Jordan are refugees.

It’s poorer countries that are doing the most to provide a place for refugees, often leading to a snowballing of resentment and ethnically tinged conflict which creates the conditions for further wars and more refugees. Rich countries aren’t doing their bit by comparison.

While the language is tentative, the UN compact points in the direction of a global fund which all UN member states contribute to, based on their comparative wealth. This would spread the financial cost and encourage the idea that this is the world’s issue to deal with. There also needs to be much more effective guidelines, backed with resources, that allows “third country” solutions to displaced people.

Put into action, the compact would take some of the ammunition away from far-right groups who are using the refugee crisis to divide people. Jacinda Ardern is a gifted and empathetic communicator. She’s almost become a global meme. Using her “star power” to articulate New Zealand’s support for the global compact on refugees would be a meaningful contribution to make at the UN General Assembly.