On behalf of our members and governing staff from over 30 of the refugee and eX-detainee communities in Australia, RISE urges the Australian public to say NO to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison?s plan to introduce legislation to ban asylum seekers who arrive by boat from ever being allowed into Australia. In November 2016, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and current Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton attempted to table the Life ban of refugees and asylum seekers Bill in parliament but it faded away after significant public backlash. Due to the current public outrage on ?Kids in detention? in offshore camps, the Morrison government is reviving this bill yet again, using refugees as political pawns.
Scott Morrison?s proposal to impose a ?life ban? on refugees and asylum seekers who have arrived since 2013 July, as well as future refugees who will be arriving to seek protection, will be tied up with the ?No Advantage Policy?, which was crafted and designed under the Australian Labor government.
?Australia has a history of racism and genocide. Far right-wing sentiments are reappearing fast. It is up to us to not repeat the abhorrent acts that Australia was built on. ?If the majority of the Senate go ahead with the decision to support Prime Minister Morrison?s proposal banning refugees and asylum seekers, it will be further evidence of Australia?s shocking discrimination against people fleeing from war, torture, rape and persecution? Ramesh Fernandez (RISE founder and eX-detainee)
People who have fled war, trauma and torture need long term security in order to restore their lives. The proposed legislation will be extremely harmful to refugees and asylum seekers. It adds major uncertainty to the lives of asylum seekers who have fled persecution and in turn exacerbates the trauma they have endured and continue to live through.
If New Zealand agrees to take about 150 refugees & Australia imposes life ban;
- What about those remaining in offshore torture camps?
- What is the fate of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia who arrived after July 2013? They may face deportation.
- What about those refugees who have gone to the USA?
- What about those refugees who were forcibly deported to danger?
- This bill impacts the reunion of families. Some of our members still have families in offshore detention centres. If this bill goes through, they will never be able to see their families again.
- What about children of asylum seeker parents who arrived after July 2013, who were born onshore in Australia?
People including children who are trapped in Nauru and Manus, held hostage by the Australian government, are being repeatedly used as political pawns. This is deliberately designed discrimination and well managed by Australian politicians. There is enough evidence that Australia?s treatment of refugees and asylum seekers is both barbaric and illegal, and that treating survivors of persecution in this way should not continue.
?At present Scott Morrison like all other Australian politicians is setting his sights on the upcoming election and is most likely intent on mopping up – what is for him – a political mess in Manus and Nauru. RISE calls on the Australian public, politicians and so-called refugee supporters to refuse to be racist proxies in helping the government pass anti-refugee policies and use our people as political currency.? (Ramesh Fernandez – RISE Founder and eX-detainee)
Media contact :
Abdul Baig (eX-detainee and RISE director)
(03) 9639 8623 or admin@riserefugee.org
SAY NO TO THE LIFE BAN OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS BY CONTACTING CROSS-BENCH SENATORS
This proposal is likely to be discussed at the Senate soon (TBA). We need to ?Say No To The Life Ban Of Refugees? and #BlockTheBill. You can help stop this by informing the Senators that you are against this proposal. Call or email the Senators and tell them you stand with refugees and do not support the lifetime ban on refugees bill.
Senator Derryn Hinch
(02) 6277 3168
1300 498 035
Senator.Hinch@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrynHinchOfficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumanHeadline
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrynhinch/?hl=en
Senator David Leyonhjelm
(02) 6277 3054
1300 884 092
Senator.Leyonhjelm@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorDavidLeyonhjelm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidLeyonhjelm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senatordavidleyonhjelm/
Senator Stirling Griff
(02) 6277 3713
1300 556 115
Senator.Griff@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorGriff/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Stirling_G
Senator Rex Patrick
(08) 8232 1144
1300 556 115
senator.patrick@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senator.rex.patrick/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Senator_Patrick
Senator Tim Storer
(08) 8232 0220
1300 738 260
senator.storer@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTimStorer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/storertim
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senatortimstorer/
We need 38 votes to #blockthebill, so we really need to try to get each of these votes. Search for other Senators and Members here
Link to our #BlockTheBill Campaign : http://riserefugee.org/blockthebillcampaign/
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