To: News Editor
From: Justice4Refugees WA Kate Leaney 0447 249 816
Sunday 14 April 2019
Perth people rally for refugees with thousands across Australia following election announcement
In the lead up to the Federal election, the treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum will be a priority issue for many Western Australians, with hundreds hitting the streets today to call for a more compassionate response.
Justice for Refugees WA, a network of more the 40 community organisations, faith groups and human rights agencies, is calling on Australia's political leaders to abandon the current harsh and unjust policies of detention, uncertainty and limbo, and to instead provide permanent protection for people seeking safety. Instead of prolonging the despair of people seeking asylum, the group calls for political leaders to provide protection, security and freedom, through a fair and just process.
Anglican Archbishop of Perth, The Most Revd Kay Goldsworthy AO, added her voice to the call for a humane response to people seeking safety saying, "Australians are a compassionate people. Instead of limbo and uncertainty, we can offer safety, freedom and a future.
"The limbo and uncertainty of offshore detention in Manus and Nauru, the separation of families and temporary protection are not the humane treatment for those who have turned to us for refuge."
Rev Steve Francis, Moderator of the Uniting Church Western Australia said, "Australians have had enough of the cruel marginalisation of refugees. People want to see some real change in the way people seeking asylum are treated. Indefinite detention is a horrible existence that we cannot, with good conscience, continue to allow."
There has been significant movement on refugee policy with growing discontent about the treatment of people in offshore locations.
There are also a growing number of high-profile supporters of the event with former Western Australian Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence, comedians Ben Elton and Tom Ballard, and much beloved author Tim Winton all posting videos to social media encouraging people to attend the justice for refugees event.
Salem has his own experience of Australia's detention and punitive refugee policy and is still trying to navigate Australia's complex immigration system. He says, "Everyone is a human being, with the right to freedom. Freedom of life, freedom of expression, freedom to seek safety."
Salem decided to speak at the event saying that he wanted, "to make sure that people in the community know the situation for people seeking asylum in Australia, what challenges and difficulties these people go through in their lives."
Refugees and people seeking asylum currently languish in either the limbo of detention or the uncertainty of temporary protection visas. People in Manus and Nauru are approaching their sixth year in limbo. Approximately 30,000 refugees in Australia (the "legacy caseload") await visa grants or live on temporary visas with their futures shrouded in uncertainty and limbo. Many families are separated with no hope for reunification due to the cruelty of current policy, and live in constant fear of deportation to danger.
