The Federal Government must stop the absurd waiting game that has passed for an asylum seeker policy and bring the Oceanic Viking home to Australia, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Immigration and Human Rights, says the Government needs to find a new plan instead of struggling to keep its failed Indonesian Solution afloat as the standoff on the ship is about to enter its fourth week.

"This one boat does not have to be a crisis - it can be solved today, and the Prime Minister can do it by bringing it home now,'' Senator Hanson-Young said. 
"Indonesia will not accept the 78 asylum seekers on the Oceanic Viking if they are found to be refugees because it is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, and the asylum seekers are fearful of languishing in Indonesia for years waiting for resettlement.

"We should not be waiting for yet another extension of this impasse - we need an Australian solution with a practical, long-term and humane approach.''

The world-wide increase in people movement shows no sign of slowing, with flashpoints like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan likely to force more desperate people to flee persecution by any means possible.

The Greens believe that Australia should respond by increasing our refugee intake, which would provide proof of our goodwill in the region in dealing with this growing problem.

"Indonesia must be convinced to sign the UN Refugee Convention - but it's not very surprising the Government has had little success persuading our neighbours so far,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

"Australia only agreed to take 35 people last year out of the thousands of refugees assessed as genuine by the UNHCR and left waiting in Indonesia for resettlement - that surely sends a signal that Australia isn't willing to take its share of the burden.''

Senator Hanson-Young says the humane approach that is needed means the Government cannot allow Australian money to be used to detain children and families, regardless of where it happens.

"The Prime Minister can't claim on one hand that his Government is humane and won't lock children up, if his administration is happy to palm off asylum seekers to other countries where they end up in detention anyway,'' she said.