Russell Crowe has offered to house and gain employment for six asylum seekers, and is challenging other Australians to do the same.
The Gladiator’s proposition came yesterday after first taking to Twitter to lambaste the situation on Manus Island.
He called it a “Nations shame”, and said it was “f*cking disgraceful” more hadn’t been done to help the detainees.
Manus. A Nations shame. Lives held in limbo . Lives lived in fear & despair . It's fucking disgraceful
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 1, 2017
Then when Twitter user Paul Rosi challenged Crowe to “put them up” himself, he responded by saying, “I’ve thought about this. I believe I could house and find jobs for 6. I’m sure there’d be other Australians who would do the same.”
I've thought about this . I believe I could house and find jobs for 6. I'm sure there'd be other Australians who would do the same
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) November 1, 2017
The solution is quickly gaining traction too. CEO of Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Kon Karapanagiotidis, replied with: “Agreed. I have a room ready for a refugee from #Manus right now in my home and a job too. Who else?”
The detention centre at Manus was officially shut down on October 31, and despite water and power being cut-off, 600-odd residents have refused to leave out of fear of the PNG locals in Lorengau (where they are expected to resettle).
In a tweet 16 hours ago, Mr Karapanagiotidis explained the current situation at the Lombrum Navy Base.
Just spoke to a man on #Manus. Men are hungry & terrified. Food is gone. Surviving on rain water. In darkness. A fucken national disgrace.
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) November 1, 2017
New Zealand to weigh-in
Meanwhile, newly-elected New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she’s looking forward to discussing the closure of the detention centre with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull when the two sit down in Sydney this weekend.
“I am looking forward, though, to having a conversation directly with the Prime Minister on Sunday about some of those issues – and New Zealand’s role and view on Manus Island in particular,” she said.
She is expected to reaffirm New Zealand’s long-held offer to resettle 150 asylum seekers.
“I think anyone would look at a situation like that and see the human face of what is an issue that New Zealand is in the lucky position of not having to struggle with, (as) Australia has,” Ms Ardern said on Thursday.
