buddies

We are a Sunshine Coast group that advocates for just and compassionate treatment of refugees, consistent with the human rights standards which Australia has developed and endorsed.

We support policies towards refugees and asylum seekers that reflect respect, decency and traditional Australian generosity to those in need, while advancing Australia’s international standing and national interests.

HOSPITALITY AND SUPPORT
We make friends with refugees and asylum seekers living in south east Queensland, exchanging visits and phone calls, offering practical support as needed.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION
We seek the truth about refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, and we make this public in different ways including offering talks to schools and community groups.

LOBBYING AND ADVOCACY
We lobby our politicians, and use media publicity to advocate for just and compassionate treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Meetings: FOURTH Sunday of each month, at 24 King St, Buderim, 11.00 am to 12:30 pm, followed by finger food lunch.

Email: buddies1@westnet.com.au

Coming Events

BUDDIES meeting 26 May

Sunday 26 May, 11:00am BUDDIES meeting, 24 King Street Buderim. Guest speaker: Angie Spencer, Executive manager, Corporate communications & partnerships, Multicultural Development Association (MDA)

News and Information

Cruelty, in the name of all of us

Cruelty, in the name of all of us Graham Thom The Age 26 November 2012 What is happening on Nauru is an affront to humanity. People who asked for our help are being broken. ON FRIDAY I returned home after four days on Nauru as an independent assessor of conditions for asylum seekers wishing to… Read More

Malcolm Fraser and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre respond to expert panel recommendations

August 14th 2012 The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is shocked and disappointed with the release of the expert panel’s recommendations as they focus on deterrence, punishment and breach the very reason the Refugee Convention was established – offering protection to people fleeing persecution. The recommendations are a step backwards in Australia’s humanity and… Read More

Parliament’s action on asylum seekers is cowardly, Bruce Haigh.

Bruce Haigh The Canberra Times 9 July 2012 The solution to the processing of asylum seekers attempting to come to Australia by boat is to process them in Indonesia. The legal requirement under international and Australian law is to process them onshore, but neither of the major parties seem to have the, wit or… Read More

Myths and Facts

REFUGEES: DISPELLING THE MYTHS

(Myth 1) Boat people are illegal. Asylum seekers who enter Australia by sea (or plane) without a valid visa are not illegal. The right to enter without prior authorisation is protected by Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which recognises that there is good cause for their unauthorised entry. Like a speeding ambulance, asylum… Read More

fact sheet

Refugees/ Asylum Seekers/ Migrants Who is a refugee? According to the United Nations Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (also called the Refugees Convention), a refugee is someone who is outside their own country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of their: race religion nationality membership of… Read More