The Network: Central Victoria Refugee Support groups take the fight for humanity rather than inhumanity up to the LibNats and Labor

Monday 19 August 2013

Central Victoria Refugee Support groups take the fight for humanity rather than inhumanity up to the LibNats and Labor

From Terry White in Bendigo ~~~

Picture below from here

Dear Friends

We desperately need our political parties to RETURN TO HUMANITY in their treatment of asylum seekers.

Can you let us (the working group of Central Victorian Refugee Support groups) know which of the politicians on the attached contact list you've spoken to or have written to ?

Today at 2pm, our working group meets in Castlemaine to discuss what more we can do, and we want to be certain that every one of our Central Victorian politicians and candidates knows that we expect them to distance themselves from the harsh liberal and labor policies on asylum seekers in the lead up to the election.

Fortunately, some Labor politicians and union leaders are beginning to do just that.

1) The Age article regarding ALP Federal election politicians and candidates speaking out against the PNG solution and vowing to fight against it.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/labor-disquiet-at-hardline-png-solution-20130814-2rvjw.html.

2) Australian Financial Review article on ACTU position on Asylum Seekers and off shore processing

http://m.afr.com/p/national/politics/unions_split_from_labor_on_png_solution_uJZfprGdlwrN04X0lNPZ9L

Also encouraging was last weeks joint statement, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH by non-government organisations (including our Castlemaine and Daylesford RAR groups) (see attached)

What are your thoughts on what more can we do?

Do you have any good news stories we could share with our friends on the Forum contact list?

Any responses from the churches or other organisations?

Any good press coverage or interviews?

Is there any way we can get the sitting members and candidates to let the public know where they stand on asylum seeker policies at public meetings in Bendigo and Ballarat?

Could this be done through the Bendigo and Ballarat TV channels or through ABC regional radio in these two centres?

What are your thoughts?

Warm regards

Terry White

Working group of Central Victorian refugee support groups.

PS: I've written to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration (no response) and to Dan Tehan the member for Wannon asking for a meeting with Maryborough RAR reps (no response as yet).

I've also written to all our Forum speakers asking if they would endorse our return to humanity statement (endorsements from Louise Newman, Julian Burnside and Janet Rice are attached)

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