1pm Gather on Princes Bridge with Riff Raff Marching Band. 1.45pm Arrive at Tom’s Block. (Bring a picnic rug or chair)
2 – 3pm Program of speakers and music with MC Tom Ballard and guest Gillian Triggs AC. Refugee speakers and musicians, faith representatives. Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir. 3 – 3.45 Music continues, info and activities with refugee
community and advocacy groups.
Everyone is welcome
Fair Go for Refugees
For decades Palm Sunday actions have called for peace and justice. Plan to join us in this important election year to show that you will Stand Up for Justice and Kindness.
The great civil rights campaigner Cornell West said: ‘Justice is what love looks like in public‘.
Now, more than ever, we need to speak up for justice and compassion to counter divisive and hurtful sentiments in public discourse. Across the world governments are abandoning the social contract, reducing government services and leaving the poor and disenfranchised to struggle.
This is not the Australia we were promised.
We must stand up for kindness and fair social policies. Compromising on human rights for some makes us all vulnerable to abuse. Refugee Rights are Human Rights. Bring back justice and fairness for refugees.
Australia’s commitment to a ‘Fair Go’ is being betrayed by the cruel and inhumane refugee policies of both major political parties.
We must take action to end the suffering of refugees and asylum seekers.
- People must not be left in limbo for years – permanent visas for all refugees.
- Rights-based processes to assess refugee status – not political expedience.
- Families need to be together – not separated for years.
- People need the right to work and study, access to Medicare, and basic income.
- Welcome the stranger – educate on the right to seek asylum.
There have been some positive changes under the Labor Government, including permanent visas for those on TPVs and SHEVs, the release of many people from detention, and the reintroduction of a more thorough and fairer assessment process for asylum claims.
However, there are still a number of serious injustices and cruel policies in place.
- Around 8,ooo people have been in visas limbo for more than 12 years under the so-called ‘Fast Track’ process, living on bridging visas. Some have no work or study rights, none has the right to income support and none has travel rights. Many live in poverty and rely on charity, and none can travel to see family and loved ones left behind.
- Two years on from the policy announcement, around 1,000 people on TPVs and SHEVs are still waiting for their permanent visas
- Around 1,000 people previously held in detention on Nauru and in PNG still only have short-term Bridging Visas, and no certainty about their future – still in limbo after 12 years
- Around 40 men are in limbo in Port Moresby. They have been there for more than 11 long years. While some have prospects for resettlement in Canada or NZ, many have no resettlement options. For more than 12 months the UNHCR has been saying that 10 of the men need urgent medical evacuation to Australia for treatment of severe mental health issues.
- Under Labor the quota for refugees has been raise to 20,000. This is a small number for Australia, given Labor shortages etc. We can easily do more. If elected, the Coalition intends to reduce the intake of refugees.