23 February 2006
CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS ON BRIDGING VISAS
Thousands of asylum seekers continue to live in Australia on bridging visas with no right to work or access to Medicare or Government financial assistance. Many are forced to beg from charity in order to survive.
With the release of most asylum seekers from detention (although the transfer of the recently arrived asylum seekers from West Papua to Christmas Island while their claims are being assessed is a reminder of the continued existence of these unjust laws) the focus of A Just Australia has shifted to the plight of these people
The regulations governing bridging visa restrictions expire next year and are currently under review. All those concerned about this issue are urged to support the campaign to ease the punitive conditions attached to these visas to ensure people are not left destitute, particularly children.
Further information about the issue and the associated campaign can be found at the above website.
With the release of most asylum seekers from detention (although the transfer of the recently arrived asylum seekers from West Papua to Christmas Island while their claims are being assessed is a reminder of the continued existence of these unjust laws) the focus of A Just Australia has shifted to the plight of these people
The regulations governing bridging visa restrictions expire next year and are currently under review. All those concerned about this issue are urged to support the campaign to ease the punitive conditions attached to these visas to ensure people are not left destitute, particularly children.
Further information about the issue and the associated campaign can be found at the above website.
Comments:
Well why don't you let them come and live in your house. You can feed them, clothe them, give them somewhere to sleep, employ them, pay their taxes, listen to them pray, pay their fines, clean up after them, teach them English, give them whatever they demand but you cant and obviously wouldnt want to send them back to where they came from would you, so there would be no time limit on your hospitality. IS THAT OK WITH YOU THEN ?
# posted by 
: 11:07 am
: 11:07 am
Why shouldn't it be? It's just that people like the previous person are to selfish to consider doing something that extreme. The previous person should maybe put him/herself in the shoes of these asylum seekers and see what they are coming from.
# posted by : 8:10 pm
: 8:10 pm
Why shouldn't Australia do its bit? Asylum seekers are refugees - it's just that we happen to be their port of call.
Wealthy Australia (population 20 million) has taken 100,000 refugees (Age, 24/2/06.) Struggling Tanzania, (population maybe 35 million, size of NSW) currently has over 600,000 asylum seekers and refugees. (DIMIA/UNHCR)
We Australians cannot afford to crow nor to be insular, blinkered nor any more selfish than we are.
Don't forget, we ALL come from somewhere else.
Wealthy Australia (population 20 million) has taken 100,000 refugees (Age, 24/2/06.) Struggling Tanzania, (population maybe 35 million, size of NSW) currently has over 600,000 asylum seekers and refugees. (DIMIA/UNHCR)
We Australians cannot afford to crow nor to be insular, blinkered nor any more selfish than we are.
Don't forget, we ALL come from somewhere else.
# posted by : 12:31 pm
: 12:31 pm
The comments by Anonymous above are disturbing and difficult to respond to. However I would point out that many Austalians ARE doing exactly what he suggests: through the Asylum Seeker Centre, the Brigidine Asylum Seeker project and others, they ARE feeding and clothing Asylum Seekers,and helping them with their paper work, and yes, listening to them pray. Many Church and community groups are teaching them English ( I teach their children); Vinnies and others pay their rents; no one pays their taxes because the Federal Government does not allow them to work (unless they are poor taxi drivers, but then they were caught recently); they cannot afford tertiary studies because they are not eligible for HECS; thankfully our Victorian State Government allows them to attend school and Tafe.
Interestingly an Asylum seeker student achieved one of the year 12 awards at St ALbans Sec in 2005.
Einstein was an asylum seeker!
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Interestingly an Asylum seeker student achieved one of the year 12 awards at St ALbans Sec in 2005.
Einstein was an asylum seeker!
# posted by : 12:43 pm
: 12:43 pm