Missy Higgins Takes Stand On 'Q&A': 'To Think We Treat Refugees Like Criminals Is Appalling'

Missy Higgins used her appearance on last night's Q&A to take a stand, saying the Australian Government should change its policy to allow more refugees in. 

When asked about the subject, the multiple ARIA Award-winning songwriter referenced her 2016 song, Oh Canada, inspired by three-year-old Aylan Kurdi whose body was found washed up on a Turkish beach in 2015.

"Like most people that saw that photo of this three-year-old boy washed up on a beach in Turkey, I was absolutely devastated," Higgins said.

"Because it put a human face to the crisis, and I think a lot of the time so many of us are so removed from it and especially with this rhetoric that comes out of the Government, calling these people criminals, calling them…. even the word 'asylum seekers' has a stigma now.

"So they come to our shores or they try to reach our shores and if they get anywhere close we lock them up in these detention centres that are like prisons, in fact probably worse than prisons because these people are indefinitely kept in a place where they’re suffering, they’ve had hugely traumatic experiences and have PTSD beyond belief."

Higgins concludes, "To think we can allow these people, who are only seeking a safe place to live, that’s all they want, that’s all anybody wants… to think we treat them like criminals, it's just really appalling."

The Melbourne artist also discussed the "big, fat, disappointing" NBN, which she said proved to be a nuisance when collaborating internationally on the internet for her forthcoming album, Solastalgia, due out 27 April.

Higgins rounded out the show by performing her track, 49 Candles; check out clips from last night's episode below.

Should Australia be granting more refugees a safe haven than it currently is? @KenRoth & @missyhiggins respond #QandA pic.twitter.com/ENI56Gjpix

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) April 16, 2018

.@missyhiggins found collaborating internationally difficult but pales in comparison to regional needs #QandA pic.twitter.com/ejkJN2wDPK

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) April 16, 2018

.@missyhiggins doesn't mind data used for advertising but not propaganda. @GrahameMorris2 says be aware of what you are sharing #QandA pic.twitter.com/ZpvP615RhR

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) April 16, 2018

What role do celebrities have in influencing social and political issues? @missyhiggins responds #QandA pic.twitter.com/C2ZJ2xSWnq

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) April 16, 2018

Missy Higgins performs the song ‘49 Candles’ from her latest album ‘Solastalgia’ to close tonight's #QandA pic.twitter.com/18w3BOcmdY

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) April 16, 2018