buddies

Meeting with Hon Robert McClelland MP Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, 3rd October 2007.
Full Text :
A ‘Buddies’ member spoke to the submission and then a number of Buddies asked questions about what the Labor party would do about refugees and asylum speakers if elected to office. Although Robert was sympathetic to our concerns, he did not make any firm committments beyond what the party had already decided at their April national conference. ( Scrap Nauru and TPV’s and no one to be in detention longer than 90 days) At least he was prepared to listen. A Labor government would not close Christmas Island ( it would be sort of handy, in case?) and Robert gave no committment to resettle in Australia those currently on Nauru who have now been assessed as refugees. He was equivocal about this saying that Australia would see if other countries would have them (but he wouldn’t leave them in limbo for long either). Despite this it was a worth while excercise and it was great to see Buddies turn out in force and be prepared to ask lots of questions. The text of the final submission is below: Submission to Hon Robert McClelland MP Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Refugee and Migration Policy and Legislation Proposals for Acheiving Human Rights and Justice. 3rd October 2007 Dear Robert, Refugee and Migration Policy We refer to a letter from Tony Burke, Shadow Minister for Immigration, dated 28 February 2007 which advises that, if elected, a Labor Party government would dismantle the Pacific Solution, close Nauru and process asylum seekers in Australia. We applaud this policy. We also applaud that Labor would end the use of private contractors in the operation of detention centres and process all asylum seekers within 90 days. We urge that these and other measures are quickly implemented enabling Australia to start to fulfill both the letter and the spirit of the Refugee Convention. Other measures we urge the ALP to adopt and implement quickly are to: Abolish Temporary Protection Visas - this is already part of ALP policy. If people are found to be refugees then they should receive permanent protection; Process all asylum seekers on the Australian Mainland and dismantle the partly completed detention centre on Christmas Island; Remove the Excision of Islands from Australia’s Migration Zone - this is a legal farce which prevents asylum seekers making a legitimate claim for protection; Allow all asylum seekers on Bridging Visas the right to work and study - this includes getting rid of the infamous 45 day Rule. Work and study are basic human rights which are currently denied to people for years; Process all Ministerial Intervention cases within 90 days - removing years of uncertainty and poverty for these asylum seekers; Cease forced deportations (such as in the recent case of a Chinese Falun Gong woman); Cease operations which turn back refugee boats to Indonesia; Provide help to access for lawyers, English courses, Medicare, and employment in the same way as for refugees selected by Australia who arrive under the formal humanitarian program; Initiate a Public Education Programme to eradicate the demonising of refugees and asylum seekers and the resulting equating of them with terrorists; · Review the total number of Refugee and Humanitarian Visas and increase those the quotas. Last week it was reported by A Just Australia that, in August, Australia secretly deported 5 West Papuan asylum seekers back to PNG, despite those asylum seekers raising protection issues while in the custody of Australian officials. It is unacceptable that our Government would breach our legal obligations to people needing our protection. We urge that an enquiry be held as to how and why this has happened. A future ALP government should uphold International Conventions, so creating a different and new Australia, to become a shining example of human rights and justice in accordance with these Conventions Further to matters pertaining only to refugee policy, there are other broader issues emerging in regard to Australia’s immigration program. These issues also need to be addressed by the next government: The definition of “family unit” in Australia is far more narrow than in many other countries. There is a need to broaden the definition to include more than just the immediate mother, father and children, ( eg when a daughter marries, she is not then seen as a member of the original family unit. This can then bring problems if the girl’s marriage breaks down). Many refugees come from countries that have a broader definition; In the cases of Australian men forming relationship with women from other countries, (particularly PNG, Philippines), when the relationship breaks down the woman has no rights. When children are involved, the woman has no rights as a mother over her children. This needs to be rectified. There is a need for a visa for a woman who has come to Australia on a short term visa, becomes pregnant to an Australian man but is then abandoned, to care for the child. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to put forward our views. We passionately believe that the many injustices arising from the Migration Act and its implementation, and from the “Pacific solution”, if allowed to continue, will poison relationships within Australian society and will adversely affect Australia’s relations with other countries. These injustices are just plain wrong and should no longer be tolerated. Buddies Lobby and Advocacy Group (Buddies Refugee Support Group has over 250 members on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast). cc: Hon Kevin Rudd MP Leader of the Opposition