A coalition of human rights organisations have today called on the Federal Government and Opposition to end the political impasse and bring refugees on Manus Island and Nauru to safety in Australia, in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the US-Australia refugee resettlement arrangement.

Director of the Edmund Rice Centre and President of the Refugee Council of Australia Phil Glendenning has called on Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten to end the political impasse and bring the people on Manus Island and Nauru to safety in Australia, in light of reports that President Donald Trump is "still considering" whether the US-Australia refugee resettlement deal will proceed.

The Australian Government's response to the Trump Administration's Executive Order to ban immigration from seven predominately Muslim countries is disturbing and out of step with the rest of the world, according to the Director of the Edmund Rice Centre Phil Glendenning.