Campaigns

11 YEARS TOO LONG - Enough is Enough

Sending asylum seekers offshore for processing and holding them there for long periods is seriously harming their health. This is unjust and inhumane.

On Friday 19th July 2024, it was 11 long years since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that anyone seeking asylum who arrived by boat would be ‘never allowed to settle in Australia’ and would be subject to offshore detention.  This has resulted in the regime of cruelty under which thousands of men, women and children suffered years in appalling conditions in detention on Nauru and Manus Island.

Sadly, there are still people trapped in PNG, waiting for a pathway to safety and secure future.  There are more than 100 people now on Nauru, many in detention, who arrived by boat since late 2023.  Around 1,000 people are here in Australia, brought from PNG and Nauru for medical treatment years ago, who have no pathway to a permanent visa, even though most are recognised as refugees.

ASRC have also released a new report, Cruelty By Design: The Health Crises in Offshore Detention detailing how the health of refugees and asylum seekers has been seriously harmed by 11 years of offshore processing and detention. By continuing offshore processing and detention, the Australian Government is knowingly harming people.

Send a message to your local MP and relevant Ministers;  Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs new Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Hon Tony Burke, and the new Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite.

Information for sending letters & emails to MPs and the Prime Minister and Ministers.

ASRC on 19 July 2024 "Health Crisis in Offshore Detention" https://asrc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ASRCreport_Healthcrisisinoffshoredetention_July2024.pdf provides a comprehensive summary of the serious harm that is done to the mental and physical health of refugees and people seeking asylum by Australia's offshore processing and detention regime.

CAMPAIGN 

FAST TRACK INJUSTICE 

Justice for all refugees who were subjected to the “Fast Track” assessment process:

What is the Fast Track Process?

In 2014, the Abbott Coalition government introduced the “Fast Track” assessment system for people seeking asylum who arrive by boat.  As one of several punitive measures to deter boat arrivals, the objective of Fast Track was to reduce the success rate of claims for asylum. After more than 10 years there are still around 9,000 people  still living in our community without permanent visas.

What is unfair about Fast Track?

  • The application process does not provide for a thorough assessment process
  • There is no proper review of the merit if the claim if denied by the Department of Home Affairs
  • Court appeals processes are inadequate
  • Fast Track is not fast – many people have waited years for a decision

In Opposition, Labor condemned the Fast Track process as unfair and unjust.  The ALP 2019 Policy Platform   stated that  Fast Track  ‘does not provide a fair, thorough and robust assessment process’ and that Labor would ‘abolish Fast Track.’

Labor is abolishing  Fast Track and the IAA; an improved process will be available for new refugee claims under the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).  However,  the ART will not provide for anyone who has been denied refugee protection under Fast Track.

If you want to know more about the Fast Track process and the impact it is having on refugees in Australia go to this document.

Why is the situation more urgent Now?

  • There is no proper review process for people denied refugee protection under Fast Track
  • In March 2024 the Labor Government proposed legislation to force people who do not have refugee status to be returned to the countries from which they fled – even if they have genuine fears of persecution there. If this becomes law, over 7,000 people who have been denied protection under Fast Track could be deported or jailed.
  • After 10 years living and working in Australia, individuals and families need the certainly of permanent visas – not more years of limbo, or possible deportation.

What advocates for Refugees are calling for:

  • A fair and thorough process to reassess the protection claims of people subjected to the “Fast Track” process who are from countries where there has been significantly worsening of the political and social situation for certain groups. These countries include Myanmar (Burma), Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan and Sri Lanka
  • Allow people found not to be refugees to apply for other permanent visas.
  • Keep families together by allowing people who have married an Australian citizen or permanent resident and those who have Australian born children to apply for a permanent visa.
  • Grant work rights, tertiary study rights and access to Medicare to all people seeking asylum while their claims are being assessed, including during and after any appeal process.
  • Ensure that those people who have been refused protection under the “Fast Track” process are not subjected to deportation under the proposed Migration Act Amendment Bill which is due to return to the Senate in June.

 What can we do?

  • Write letters/emails/ phone your local Federal Member of Parliament and South Australian Senators to tell them you want to see a fair and thorough process to reassess the claims of those people on Bridging Visas who were refused protection under the “Fast Track” process, and alternative pathways to permanency for those who have been here for more than 10 years.
  • DRAFT letter for PM/MPs/Senators
  • Visit your local MP/Senator to discuss why you want both reassessment of refugee claims for those who were denied refugee status under the “Fast Track” and an assurance that these people would not be subject to deportation if the proposed Migration Act Amendment Bill is passed through Senate.
  • List and contact details of all MPs & Senators

CAMPAIGN 

STOP THE BILL - Delayed 

URGENT

Tell politicians why you oppose the Entry Ban & Deportation Bill (Migration Amendment Bill 2024)

Contact Senators NOW.

It's IMPORTANT that all Senators hear your concerns about the Deportation Bill – they were meant to vote in June but it has now been delayed.

WE NEED YOUR HELP 

Lobby Labor MPs and Senators to withdraw the Migration Amendment Bill

Labor may seek to pass the legislation during the June Parliamentary sitting (24-27 June).

A Senate Inquiry has recommended that this atrocious Bill be passed, in spite of strong opposition from human rights organisations, legal and community advocates, and refugee and migrant communities.

The Greens and Senator David Pocock recommended the Bill be rejected.  Anticipating that the Senate may seek to pass the Bill, Senator Pocock also recommended amendments.  The Coalition submitted a dissenting report, recommending 17 amendments – see a brief overview of these amendments here: Amendments to the Deportation Bill suggested in the Dissenting Reports

However, Labor does not appear to be listening.

Contact Labor MPs and Senators Now - phone, email , write letters:

  1. Urge Labor MPs and Senators to withdraw and abandon the Bill.

  2. Highlight that refugees owed protection by Australia could be at risk of being deported to danger because:

  • the Minister would have extended powers to revoke refugee status

  • thousands of people would be at risk from this Bill because they have never had their refugee claims fairly assessed – they were assessed under the intentionally unfair Fast Track process.

  1. Demand that people denied protection under the Fast Track assessment be given a fair process and pathways to permanency.

Use these suggested points to raise with Labor politicians

See letter writing Kit: Letter Writing | Australian Refugee Action Network ARAN (available from Sat 8 June)

Further information on the Bill:  Thanks to Brisbane RAC for sharing video footage of rally held on 11 May: You might like to see the YouTube of the speakers at the rally in Brisbane Sat 11 May.   The speech by Rita Jabri Markwell, Human rights lawyer and advocate, is a particularly good explanation of the deeply troubling parts of the bill.  See also Channel 7 News coverage.

Information and Summary on the Entry Ban & Deportation Bill (Migration Amendment Bill 2024)

The Bill is not yet law. It was referred to a Senate Committee, which reported to Parliament on 7 May 2024.  Justice for Refugees SA wrote a submission to this committee Please Read 

The Bill is NOW going to the vote in Parliament on June 24 -27

Background - 26 March 2024 the Albanese Labor Government introduced a wide-reaching proposal to amend the Migration Act to enable the government to coerce people to co-operate with deportation orders, and also allows the Minister for Immigration to prevent people from certain countries obtaining visas to come to Australia.  The proposed legislation, the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is also referred to as the Entry Ban and Deportation Bill.

We all need to take urgent action to voice opposition to this Bill which will have dire consequences for potentially thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum if it becomes law:

  • giving the Minister power to revoke refugee status
  • sending people back to danger, and jailing them if they refuse to cooperate
  • separating families
  • potentially banning all migration from certain countries

CAMPAIGN

REFUGEES IN LIMBO - 10 Years Too Long. Refugees off PNG. July 2023

This campaign is a national campaign led by the Australian Refugee Action Network (ARAN) and we thank them for all the materials they have developed.

Campaign Objective

  • All those in PNG are given the option of being transferred to Australia while awaiting resettlement
  • All those transferred are allowed to live in the community and provided with appropriate support and medical care until long term settlement arrangements are made. They should not be held in locked detention

Actions you can take

  1. Write to your local Federal MP and Federal Senator if they are Labor, Greens or a progressive independent. See listing with email contacts here https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members
  • The more letters the better
  • Ask all of your group/network to write letters/emails
  • It has more impact if you write an individualised letter/email rather than using a proforma one. Politicians will take more notice if they see lots of letters from individual concerned constituents, than if they see the same number of pro forma letters coming from an organised campaign.
  • Letters do not need to be long; it is really the number of letters that counts
  • Here are some Points to Make that you could use as the basis of your letter/email
  • Use your own words
  • Be clear about your “ask” (see the Points to Make)
  • Two or three points (in your own words) and a clear “ask” are all that is required
  • ARAN letter writing kits on this issue are available here (see Kits for April 2023 and July 2023)
  1. Meet with your Federal MP if they are Labor, Greens or a progressive independent
  • Request a meeting as a constituent
  • Here is a Briefing Paper - feel free to modify as required for the individual MP
  • It is important to be clear about your “ask” (see the end of the briefing paper)
  • If no reply follow up by phone or email after 1 week, and again at the 2 week mark if no response
  • If still no response, follow up again with a personal visit to their electoral office
  • If it is clear that you are not going to get a meeting with the MP, ask to meet with their Policy Advisor instead (or Chief of Staff, if it is a Minister)
  • If you do get a meeting, try to have a refugee or asylum seeker who has been held offshore ( in either PNG or Nauru) attend the meeting with you - to make it very real and personal. Contact us at austrefugeenetwork@gmail.com if you need help with that
  • Here are some tips to help you prepare Planning for meetings and letters to MPs

When: Now

If your Federal MP is Coalition or conservative crossbench, it may be counterproductive to seek a meeting with them at this point in time. Instead, request a meeting with the ALP Duty Senators for your seat. (For each seat without a Labor MP, the ALP allocates one of its Senators to be the effective Labor representative for that seat).

If you live in the electorate of Hotham (Clare O’Neil’s electorate) or Grayndler (Anthony Albanese’s electorate) you are special! Please contact Kevin Sweeney on kevin2sweeney@me.com so that we can plan a meeting request together.
If you would like assistance with meeting with your MP please also contact Kevin Sweeney

NB:  We are keen to track meetings, phone calls, letters and emails to politicians for this campaign, so please record them here Record of discussions and correspondence with politicians (including unsuccessful attempts to meet) or email austrefugeenetwork@gmail.com  

 

Campaign 2022 - 2023

Justice for Refugees SA - Four Priorities for Change

1. Replacing Temporary Protection Visas with a pathway to permanency

2. Improving access to tertiary education for refugees and people seeking asylum.

3. Increasing Australia’s humanitarian, family reunion and refugee intake overall, as well as increasing the intake from Afghanistan to 20,000.

4. Ending indefinite offshore and onshore detention for refugees and people seeking asylum.

As a focal point for our campaign and advocacy engagement the J4RSA Management Committee has developed the Four Priorities for Change

These priorities for change were first developed in 2022 as part of the 2022 federal election campaign and since then J4RSA has continued to focus on these four areas of importance.

During the federal election campaign J4RSA Management Committee, supporters and members, were busy working tirelessly to engage and meet with sitting MPs, Senators and candidates in key seats around SA. This engagement has also including writing to candidates and going to local candidate forums. We also held How To Meet Your MP webinars for young supporters.

Since the election the Management Committee have continued their campaigning and advocacy on these priorities, by meeting with the newly elected Federal and State members of Parliament, as well and building awareness and understanding in the broader community.

J4RSA has also continued to work in collaboration with over 140 organisation around Australia.