The leader of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Prof. James Haire, today said the Australian government had to take seriously its responsibilities to rescue the tiny island nation of Tuvalu as it faced the prospect being swept into the Pacific Ocean due to climate change.

The national leader of the Uniting Church in Australia today expressed deep grief and sorrow at the announcement by Prime Minister John Howard, that he was committing Australia troops to a war in Iraq.

Uniting Church leaders today condemned the Federal Government for its agreement with the Iranian Government to accept the forced deportations of failed Iranian asylum seekers.

The Uniting Church in Australia national spokesperson on refugee and asylum issues says she is encouraged by Labor's Refugee Policy released this morning, "although some areas deserve further work."

Key leaders of the Uniting Church in Australia have expressed their anger and outrage over the Australian Government's vote against the United Nations anti-torture protocol.

The Uniting Church in Australia believes that the Federal Government's response to the situation of the Bakhtiari family is cruel and inhumane.

The Federal Government's refusal to close detention centres and implement an alternative refugee and asylum seeker policy is to blame for the dangerous conditions at Curtin Detention Centre according to leaders of the Uniting Church.

"We do not support people using one violent act to justify other violent acts" says a position paper released today by the National Social Responsibility and Justice agency of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church.

The acting National Director, Social Responsibility and Justice, Uniting Church in Australia, Ms Rosemary Hudson Miller, today expressed her concern at the possibility of the passing of the Migration Amendment Bills.

Uniting Church's national social justice spokesperson Ms Rosemary Miller has urged Minister Ruddock not to undermine the current UN protocols regarding asylum seekers, "just because it doesn't suit his political purpose of the moment".