Minister Scott Morrison’s fear tactics

RISE is concerned by the comments of Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, who on 27 February 2012 said ?when illegal boats turn up in our waters there will always be the risk that people on these boats will carry serious communicable...

Where are you from?

Two days ago I was walking on my way to work and, as always, I have my coffee on Flinders Lane in central Melbourne. While waiting for my coffee, a well-meaning Australian came up to me and asked me what my ethnicity was. I had no idea who he was nor did I know what...

Our views on offshore processing

RISE is extremely concerned about the continued raising of an asylum seeker deal between regional and Australian governments, recently rehashed by Independent MP, Rob Oakeshott. Minister for Immigration and Labor MP, Chris Bowen has recently announced his support for...

Protests are democratic actions

Both Liberal and Labour parties have cited last year?s protests as ?criminal actions?, but Australian detention centres are being used as crypts to bury the voices and narratives of oppressed men, women and children who are seeking freedom. What democratic options do...

Xenophobia or racial discrimination?

Is this a form of xenophobia or racial discrimination? Seeking asylum is not a crime and it is a right that is upheld by the laws of this land as well as the UN Refugee Convention that our country has pledged to support. Yet in recent times, successive Australian...