16 June 2004
FORMER AUSTRALIAN TEST CAPTAIN CALLS FOR JUST TREATMENT OF REFUGEES
Former Australian Cricket Captain Ian Chappell has called on his fellow Australians to maintain pressure on the Government in regard to its treatment of refugees in the lead up to the election later this year.
A longtime supporter of the "A Just Australia" campaign, he believes that whilst the mistreatment of those who came to Australia seeking asylum by the Government has been exposed and challenged there still remains much to be done whilst hundreds of men, women and children are still detained – some for now up to five years.
It is clear that there has been a slow but steady weakening of the Government’s hard-line position in regard to refugees. The about-turn in recognizing the refugee status of many on Nauru (including many who arrived aboard the "Tampa"), their subsequent release into the Australian community and the closure of the detention centre on Manus Island with the granting of permanent residency to its last remaining refugee are positive signs. There is no doubt this is partly in response to the many voices that have been raised in protest, voices of ordinary citizens like the readers of this bulletin. In the words of Peter Arndt of the Brisbane Catholic Peace and Justice Commission "Our appeals for compassion are being heard and we hope they will influence decision makers so that the anxiety suffered by refugees can come to an end"
Those concerned with this issue are urged to maintain the momentum for a change in policy by continuing to write to Members of Parliament about their concerns. Contact details for Members of Parliament can be found in the link to the website of the Australian Parliament at left.
The full text of Ian Chappell’s letter and information about current campaigns can be found at the A Just Australia website.
A longtime supporter of the "A Just Australia" campaign, he believes that whilst the mistreatment of those who came to Australia seeking asylum by the Government has been exposed and challenged there still remains much to be done whilst hundreds of men, women and children are still detained – some for now up to five years.
It is clear that there has been a slow but steady weakening of the Government’s hard-line position in regard to refugees. The about-turn in recognizing the refugee status of many on Nauru (including many who arrived aboard the "Tampa"), their subsequent release into the Australian community and the closure of the detention centre on Manus Island with the granting of permanent residency to its last remaining refugee are positive signs. There is no doubt this is partly in response to the many voices that have been raised in protest, voices of ordinary citizens like the readers of this bulletin. In the words of Peter Arndt of the Brisbane Catholic Peace and Justice Commission "Our appeals for compassion are being heard and we hope they will influence decision makers so that the anxiety suffered by refugees can come to an end"
Those concerned with this issue are urged to maintain the momentum for a change in policy by continuing to write to Members of Parliament about their concerns. Contact details for Members of Parliament can be found in the link to the website of the Australian Parliament at left.
The full text of Ian Chappell’s letter and information about current campaigns can be found at the A Just Australia website.
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