By Sumitra Vignaendra

On 10 September 2023, at the end of refugee Neil Para’s marathon 1014 kilometre walk from Ballarat to Sydney, it was made public that Neil, his wife, Sugaa, and two daughters, Nivash and Kartie, had been granted permanent visas (his youngest, Nive, was born in Australia, and she was made a citizen when she turned 10).

But this fact is taken from the middle of this story.

The Traumatic Start

Neil fled war-torn Sri Lanka for Malaysia in 2008. At the time, Sugaa was pregnant, but he felt he had to temporarily leave her to find a safer and more stable home for his family. By 2012, the family was reunited, now with two girls, Nivash and Kartie, with Sugaa pregnant with a third child. The young family made the perilous journey from Malaysia to Indonesia then to Christmas Island on board a small fishing boat carrying in excess of 200 asylum seekers.

On arrival, the family was detained for a period, and then finally released into the Australian community with working rights. The family went to Ballarat in 2013 on a Bridging Visa, where they were welcomed by the community, most notable, Kath Morton. After four months, however, their working rights were inexplicably revoked, which meant they had no visa, no rights to work, no Medicare and no tertiary study rights. By then their youngest, Nive, was born.

The people of Ballarat generously pay the family’s bills and rent. In return, Neil is a tireless volunteer for the SES and leads a crew, while Sugaa volunteers in aged care and the Ballarat Visitor Information Centre. Both are also actively involved in community committees.

Living and raising children when one’s status in Australia remained uncertain, however, was understandably excruciating. They applied many times for permanent protection, without success. Their many appeals against the rejection, and for ministerial intervention, were also unsuccessful.

Walking for Freedom

Neil felt that the only way to be heard by the authorities would be to make the long trek through two states on foot to the Prime Minister’s electoral office in Sydney, petition in hand. And on the way, it was not just his story that he would share with the people he encountered, but also the stories of over 10000 refugees who were in similar straights, 2000 of which are families.

This was an incredibly brave act on the part of a refugee who had so much to lose by bringing his situation to the attention of the public in this way, not to mention the physical and mental toll of making such a trip. Sugaa also confirmed that it was the first time during their stay in Australia that he had been away from the family for such a long period of time. Preparing and training for his trek also forced him away from his wife and children for hours every day for months.

Neil took this risk because he wanted to put a spotlight on the fact that over 10000 refugees were living in uncertainty, many for over 10 years, on visas with inconsistent and onerous conditions, or on no visas at all. Many refugees on these visas still do not have work rights, study rights, Medicare, or basic income support. Many are also dependent on the goodwill and charity of the community for a home and employment.

Touching Hearts and Minds

Neil was convinced that the public would be interested in these refugees’ stories and respond with sympathy and support.

He was correct. At every town through which he travelled, people welcomed him, communities and some politicians supported him, and councils arranged receptions. Supporters travelled from as far as Tasmania to walk with him, as well as fellow refugees from Iran, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Afghanistan, who travelled from Melbourne and other towns in order to be walking partners and to share their stories, including a large group who gathered at Shepparton’s Mosque in Victoria.

Neil’s walk also garnered the support of Melbourne’s Refugee Action Collective who helped coordinate the walk, supported by Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) groups in both Victoria and New South Wales, and refugee support groups such as People Just Like Us. Long-time supporters, Ballarat RAR, led by convenor Margaret O’Donnell, were pivotal. Behind the scenes, hundreds of volunteers ensured Neil was accompanied by a support vehicle daily, and RAR members and other community members fed, housed and supported Neil, provided companionship and blister relief. Keiran Magee, a volunteer with Refugee Action Collective Victoria, meticulously detailed the daily route and logistics while a number of refugee advocates in New South Wales and Victoria coordinated media coverage. Supporters had weekly zoom meetings to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Individuals and groups donated funds for this journey – including the Iranian Women’s Association in Melbourne – and overly 20,000 Australians signed Neil’s petition – almost 20,000 electronically and others were handwritten – asking for permanent protection for refugees. The electronic petition was delivered electronically to the Prime Minister’s electoral office on 12 September.

Neil said: “My walk has achieved something by raising awareness about the refugees. I have provided evidence to the government that people support this move.

“I reached many teenagers which helped them understand the refugees’ plight.

“I enjoyed the beautiful colour of canola and made friends for life. Every Australian welcomed me with open arms. People opened their house to me, made meals, took care of me, drew signs and banners, businesses supported me.

“Road users were friendly, some stopped to talk, take a selfie or photos, ask me why I was walking, wished me good luck and shouted me coffees.

“It was also an honour to receive shoes from (Aboriginal Voice to Parliament Yes advocate) legend Pat Farmer and run with him and a privilege to have photos with him.

“I also met others like me and heard their stories; met their children, born here, wanting the right to study, live and work here. Met men who have not seen their fiancé or wife and children for years, and a teenager who won a law scholarship but cannot access it.

“I am really proud I was able to do this with my amazing team; without them and without any support along the road, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. So many friendly drivers, so many supporters, so much encouragement from all types of organisations, thank you everyone for supporting this walk.”

Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, walked one stretch with Neil. Power told Neil: “It’s great to see the support you are getting as you walk across the country; it’s been effective in mobilising and drawing attention to the people left in limbo for so long.

“There are thousands of people for whom it is untenable to return to their country of origin. There are many with compelling cases that need to be examined. The situations you are highlighting are shared by thousands in Australia and we are trying to raise this issue with the government.”

The Journey Ended in Sydney

When Neil arrived in the Greater Sydney Area, a dinner was organised jointly by the Australian Tamil Refugee Council, Consortium of Tamil Organisations NSW/ACT, TRACK (Tamil Rehabilitation and community Konnection), THADAM (an NGO based in Sydney which focuses on mental health in the Tamil community), the Australian Tamil Congress Uniting Church Tamil congregation, and the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce of National Christian Council.

The Jesuit Refugee Service and the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum also welcomed and supported Neil in the Sydney section of his journey. Sutherland Shire Refugee Connection covered his accommodation and meals, and their members joined the final leg of the walk, as did the Sydney-based clients and volunteers from the Asylum Seekers Centre, who hosted a dinner for Neil on his second night in Sydney.

On 9 September, after Neil’s walk from Liverpool to Canterbury, he was reunited after 40 days with his Sugaa and their girls. Fabia Claridge, co-convenor of People Just Like Us, a refugee advocacy organisation based in Sydney, said: “We hope the massive community support shown for Neil and his achievements will inspire the Australian government to act to make sure these people are no longer left behind.”

On 10 September, dozens of supporters walked with him and his family on his final 6 kilometre stretch from Canterbury to Marrickville. “Sun in my eyes, wind in my face, joy in my heart as I cross the finish line,” Neil reflected. At the picnic that concluded this event, it was made public that four members of the family had been given permanent protection (Nive was granted citizenship when she turned 10).

Neil Para reunited with Sugaa and the girls after 40 days apart (Photo by Sumitra Vignaendra)

The Story is Not Over

In February Immigration Minister Andrew Giles granted access for 19,000 who held Temporary Protection Visas and Safe Haven; however, in excess of 10,000 refugees in Australia remain in limbo.

Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition has said that Labor recognises the flaws in the fast-track system introduced under Morrison but has done nothing to rectify those flaws; despite policy, the fast-track system has not been abolished. Nor has Labor provided any systematic way to review the flawed decisions.

“Despite many approaches to the Minister, Andrew Giles is still unwilling to fix this glaring injustice,” said Rintoul, “Yet, ministerial intervention over the Biloela family and now Neil Para’s family has shown how simply it could be fixed.”

With great perversity, Australia punishes the people who are most in need – those who have escaped violence and horror in their birth countries, leaving families behind, both dead and alive. Australia’s mistreatment of refugees is not only at odds with human rights conventions that Australia has ratified, it is also at odds with the second verse of our own national anthem: “For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share.”

To manage this glaring disjuncture between what we say about ourselves and what we do, we fabricate false narratives about refugees, demonising them as people asking for more than they deserve, which is in stark contrast to the truth. A common feature of refugees is their willingness to freely offer their time, services and kindness to help others in straightened circumstances. When one experiences perils, one appreciates the value of community.

Throughout his journey, Neil has highlighted the massive contribution of refugees to the Australian community, including their willingness to freely offer their time, services and kindness to help to others. He has also shown his respect for the first peoples of this land, their rights, and value of their cultures. The day after his arduous walk, when he had earned a much-needed rest, he still made time to write the following to his Tamil compatriots in Australia: “My advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers will continue regardless of their country, language, religion, abilities, gender etc. … Please vote YES for Aboriginal people.”

More photos by Sumitra Vignaendra of Neil’s incredible journey

Media release

Sri Lankan refugee Neil Para and his family have been granted permanent visas coinciding with completion of his marathon 1014-kilometre walk from Ballarat to Sydney at the weekend.

The inspirational trek through two states put the issue of 10,000 refugees living in limbo without permanent visas firmly on the Australian agenda.

Immigration Lawyer Carina Ford announced that Neil and his family had been granted permanent visas from Australian Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.

Neil completed his walk out of compassion for his friends. The walk began on August 1 and went through 30 Victorian towns and 42 towns/cities in NSW.

An emotional Neil Para said today: “I am glad and grateful. My family feels humbled. We hope all will be free one day. We promise that we will contribute to Australia. Refugees have a lot to give.

“We look forward to working not walking. My kids can follow their dreams.”

Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) Ballarat convenor Margaret O’Donnell said: “RAR and the family’s other supporters from Ballarat are overjoyed that finally after more than a decade, they have permanent visas and can get on with their lives.”

The walk was a mammoth effort of coordination led by Melbourne Refugee Action Collective (RAC) and supported by Rural Australians for Refugees groups in both states and other refugee support groups including People Just Like Us. Everywhere Neil went people welcomed him, communities supported him and supporters and refugees travelled to walk with him.

When embarking on the walk, a Change.org petition seeking permanent visas had amassed about 11,000 signatures. The online and hard copy petition, which closes on Monday, is approaching 20,000.

Neil fled war-torn Sri Lanka and arrived in Australia in August 2012 seeking asylum, with his pregnant wife Sugaa and daughters Nivash and Kartie. Their third daughter Nive was born in Australia. The family was in Sydney to walk the final 6km with Neil.

Long title: What do major issues that impact on Aboriginal people in contemporary Australian society tell us about our history?

It is difficult to isolate any of these issues. Each issue weaves into another: identity; health; housing; education; self-determination; recognition of sovereignty; gender issues; custodial issues and racism can all be connected. For example, discussions on identity can be traced to forced removal (through pastoral expansion or the policy of assimilation) which in turn can be traced to racism. Discussions on health lead to housing, which can also be traced to racism. Black deaths in custody is one of the major concerns in custodial issues, again, racism is a key element. Land rights are an issue linked to self-determination and recognition of sovereignty. Denial of these is also racist.

It is evident that the first European colonisers in Australia declared their belief in white supremacy, and this declaration is unchanged by the majority of white Australians today (1). Over the last two hundred years this attitude has been lodged into our history.

To many Aborigines their identity has been shrouded due to the forced removal from their lands, or the forced removal from their families. This alienation from the land disrupted ceremonial life and eroded Aboriginal identity.

Children were removed from their families as governments pursued a policy of assimilation, cast in the hope that Aboriginal children would assimilate into European culture. However, these children – now as adults – remain unsure about their own identity though wanting to return to their Aboriginal families.

Aboriginal people suffer from many disadvantages in our society, and the most damning indicator of the disadvantages is their rate of illness and shorter life expectancy. Statistics provide the evidence: The mortality rate of Aboriginal babies is three times that of other Australian babies; Aboriginal mothers are up to five times more likely to die during childbirth; and life expectancy is up to 12 years less than other Australians.

Poor health correlates with poor housing, and the living conditions of many Aborigines reflects their status in Australian society and their low-income potential (2). Their resultant segregation provides limited access to facilities such as sewerage, rubbish removal, or clean water. The health and housing conditions of Aborigines are a result of their marginalisation in society.

Elements of racism are also accountable for the low education standards attained by Aboriginal people (3). Statistically, it could be argued that Aborigines do not consider education to be important (4). The statistics summarise that their achievements in literacy and numeracy are substantially below average levels, as is their participation rates in compulsory schooling. The argument for the racist element, however, is stronger. It is questionable whether the education system is catering for the needs of Aboriginal people. The education system inhibits Aboriginal learning styles with Aboriginal values being replaced with our own values, and our way of understanding and doing things. This in itself assumes that our culture is superior and Aboriginal children are conditioned into accepting the culture of the dominant white society.

The rights to maintain self-determination have been denied to the Aboriginal people since white colonisation; itself an act of discrimination that places Aborigines in a subordinate position in Australia today (5). The denial of self-determination, which is a denial of a people to identify with their own history and the perpetuation of their culture bears a strong connection to the reasons behind a lack of identity.

The attitudes of discrimination rife in Australian society have left their scars on the matriarchs of the Aboriginal people: Women are also victims of chauvinism as well as being placed in the lowest status positions (6). This contributes to a lack of awareness of how dispossession, racist practices, incarceration and violence have fragmented their position in society (7).

The statistics on custodial issues reveal further imbalances: Young indigenous people are eighteen times more likely to be held in detention than other Australian youths (8). The imprisonment rate of Aborigines is the highest in the world, leading to a conclusion that Indigenous people face discrimination within the legal system.

More telling however, is that over-representation is shadowed by a more disturbing statistic in the issue: Aborigines are dying in custody. No suitable reason can be found to explain the deaths. It is at the grass roots level that prevention should be focused. In the 1980s, 67% of Aborigines taken into custody were jailed as a result of alcohol-related detentions (9). The Commissioner of the inquiry into Black Deaths in Custody reported the abolition of the offence of drunkenness should reduce our prison populations without threat to public safety. This advice has been all but ignored.

But the issue still needs further examination. Forty-three per cent of Aborigines who died in custody had, as children, been forcibly removed from their families under the policy of assimilation, and only 1% had finished their formal schooling (10). It is relevant to ask: Is Australia’s past treatment of Aborigines central to their current rates of arrest and imprisonment? (11)

All Aboriginal people suffer in every aspect of their lives from racism. The denial of self-determination is racist (12). Racism is evident in the education system, the legal system and the political structures of Australian society (13). It exists at the legislative and bureaucratic levels and weaves down into public opinion. Aboriginal people have had to contend with the European attitude of white supremacy. These issues are all bound together with racism (14).

These major issues indicate that a history of racist views and policies began in Australia in 1788 and still manifests society today. History books account of the struggles of Europeans to claim this continent as their own, whereas a curtain of silence has shielded generations of students from recognising how European expansion swept away the land rights of the original inhabitants.

In the advancing colonisation the Aboriginal people were conveniently treated as part of the country’s past. ‘History,’ proclaimed an old university lecturer of mine, ‘treated Aboriginal people as little more than impediments standing briefly in the way of inevitable white progress across the nation’ (15).

So I ask, what do major issues that impact on Aboriginal people in contemporary Australian society tell us about our history? And do they, perhaps, explain the strong showing the No vote (for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament) is gathering?

References

(1) The Path to Reconciliation (1997), Commonwealth of Australia booklet, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

(2) Tarrago, I. (1992), ‘Aboriginal families’ in National family summit report, Batchler-Wheeler Associates for Capital Reporting, Parliament House, Canberra, pp 63-71.

(3) The Path to Reconciliation (1997), Commonwealth of Australia booklet, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

(4) Tarrago, I. (1992), ‘Aboriginal families’ in National family summit report, Batchler-Wheeler Associates for Capital Reporting, Parliament House, Canberra, pp 63-71.

(5) Bird, G; Martin, G; and Nielsen, J.(1996), editors Majah: indigenous peoples and the law, The Federation Press, NSW.

(6) O’Shane, P. (1993), ‘Aboriginal women and the women’s movement’ in Refracting voices, feminist perspectives, Southward Press, NSW.

(7) Miller, L. (1993), ‘The women’s movement and Aboriginal women’ in Refracting voices, feminist perspectives, Southward Press, NSW.

(8) The Path to Reconciliation (1997), Commonwealth of Australia booklet, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

(9) Lippmann, L. (1994), Generations of resistance, 3rd edition, Longman Australia, Melbourne.

(10) The Path to Reconciliation (1997), Commonwealth of Australia booklet, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

(11) O’Shane, P. (1993), ‘Aboriginal women and the women’s movement’ in Refracting voices, feminist perspectives, Southward Press, NSW.

(12) Bird, G; Martin, G; and Nielsen, J.(1996), editors Majah: indigenous peoples and the law, The Federation Press, NSW.

(13) O’Shane, P. (1993), ‘Aboriginal women and the women’s movement’ in Refracting voices, feminist perspectives, Southward Press, NSW.

(14) McGrath, A. (1993), Women and state, LaTrobe University Press, Bundoora.

(15) Edwards, W.H. (1988), An introduction to Aboriginal societies, Social Science Press, Wentworth Falls, NSW.

Media Release Update

Who: Neil Para

What: 1000 km Refugee Walk For Freedom from Ballarat to Marrickville

When and where: Friday 8 September 2023, 8am, Camden Showground.

When and where: Saturday 9 September 2023, 7.45am, Liverpool Regional Museum

Refugee supporters and locals are invited to join Neil on his extraordinary walk into Sydney next Friday 8^th and Saturday 9^th of September 2023.

Neil will walk from Camden to Liverpool (29km) on Friday. He continues from Liverpool to Canterbury (20km) on Saturday.

People wanting to join Neil are warmly encouraged to join Neil as he continues into Sydney.

Refugee support groups People Just Like Us, Asylum Seeker Centre and Southland Shire Refugee Connection are supporting Neil as he enters Sydney.

Fabia Claridge of People Just Like Us says the public are invited to join Neil as he walks on the concluding days through Camden, Willowdale, Liverpool and on to Canterbury.

“Neil has been met with open arms all through Victoria and New South Wales, and we are excited to welcome him and support him as he walks on these last stages in Sydney. We invite anyone who wants to walk with Neil to join us at Camden Showground for an 8am departure or Willowdale Shopping Centre for lunch.”

Walkers can join Neil at the following points:

Thursday September 7:

When Neil arrives in the Greater Sydney Area on Thursday, Tamil organisations in Sydney, including Australian Tamil Refugee Council, Consortium of Tamil Organisations NSW/ACT, TRACK (Tamil Rehabilitation and Community Konnection), THADAM, Australian Tamil Congress, Uniting Church Tamil congregation, together with Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce of National Christian Council will host a dinner to welcome Neil. Details from Joyce Fu.

Friday September 8:

8am Camden Showground (Cnr Mitchell St. & Cawdor Rd.)

12pm Willowdale Shopping Centre

Finishing at Liverpool Regional Museum

Saturday September 9:

7:45am Liverpool Regional Museum

9:15am Davy Robinson Reserve Boat Ramp

10:30am McDonald’s Revesby / BP Services

12:15pm Wiley Park (Lakemba, Edge St entrance, near the parking)

2.15pm Arrive at St Mary MacKillop Reserve, welcome by Senator Mehreen Faruqi

Walkers will be asked to walk single file on the footpath. Please bring own water and snacks. Lunch will be provided.

People will be able to track Neil’s exact location via his website – Walk for Freedom

Walk contacts: Neil Para 0452 533759

Images, Facebook live and facts – Union of Australian Refugees | Facebook

Twitter @UofAusRefugees

https://www.instagram.com/refugeewalkforfreedom/

#RefugeeWalkForFreedom

Background:

Neil is calling for permanent visas to provide hope and certainty for around 10,000 refugees who have been living in the Australian community for almost 10 years whilst waiting for permanency.

“Please listen to our voices as we ask for freedom, hope and certainty. Please grant us permanent visas so that refugee children such as my children have hope for the future.”

Neil is walking from Ballarat to the Prime Minister’s Sydney electorate, arriving in the second week of September.

Neil and his wife Sugaa and their two daughters Nivash and Kartie came to Australia seeking safety 11 years ago. For over 9 years the family has lived with no visa, no right to work, without Medicare and no tertiary study rights. (Youngest daughter, Nive, was born in Australia and has citizenship).

The family would love to be able to work and support themselves. Neil was a hairdresser in Sri Lanka and wants to be a police officer in Australia, while Sugaa hopes to become an aged care worker.

Neil and Sugaa do volunteer work in Ballarat to give back to the local community which has supported them. Both have been continuously involved in community committees. Neil is a tireless volunteer for the SES and leads a crew, while Sugaa has volunteered for years in aged care (Ballarat Health Services) and the Ballarat Visitor Information Centre.

Eldest daughter 15-year-old Nivash would dearly love to study medicine at university when she finishes school as she dreams of being a cardiac surgeon, but without a visa she cannot attend university once she turns 18. ^[1] Nivash would also love to work part-time as her Australian friends do.

Neil and Sugaa learnt English through their volunteer roles, as their non-resident status precluded them from even attending classes to learn English.

Neil Para and his family outside their home in Ballarat North, 14 May 2023. Photo @Aldona Kmieć

The Federal Government’s Resolution of Status (RoS) visa announcement in February paved the way for permanent visas for 19,000 refugees ^[2] (on a temporary protection or safe haven enterprise visa 2013) but Neil is one of thousands of others who missed out.

People can sign the petition here.

———

*Youngest daughter Nive finally has a Medicare card now as she was born here and is a citizen now but does not have the same equal rights as other Australian children.

^[1] Family Pleads With Government To Change Refugee Policies – Network Ten (10play.com.au)

^[2] https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/thousands-of-refugees-on-temporary-visas-will-be-allowed-to-stay-after-labor-fulfils-key-election-promise/kj5jobvay

Media Release

Neil Para is inviting everyone who supports the Walk for Freedom to become his mate and a mate for the 10,000 refugees who have been in limbo for more than 10 years. You can do this by:

Joining Neil on the last leg of his walk into Sydney on 8-10 September;

Signing and sharing Neil’s petition calling for hope and certainty for 10,000 refugees who are still waiting for a permanent.

Signing can make a huge difference to many.

Neil left Ballarat on 1 August to walk 1000 kilometres to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate in Marrickville, Sydney. Neil is asking for permanent visas for his family and 10,000 other refugees, including 2,000 families with children.

Neil has lived in limbo in Australia for 11 years with his wife Sugaa and their three young daughters Nivash, Kartie and Australian-born Nive who has Australian citizenship. They have no visa, no job and no continuous Medicare.

Neil: “I fled war and persecution in Sri Lanka and arrived in Australia via Christmas Island in 2012. Asylum seekers like me from militarised parts of the world seek safety in Australia. Instead, we experienced 14 months of detention in immigration detention centres that almost broke our spirit. But we are resilient, and we carry the hope that all 10,000 refugees who have been forgotten will call Australia home one day.”

When Neil started his walk, he had already gathered dozens of supporters around him. Now, more than 600 kilometres in, Neil and his family have won the hearts of thousands in Australia and overseas in support of their cause: asking for permanent protection and better rights for his family and for the 10,000 other refugees who have been left behind.

Since Neil started walking, more than 5000 people have signed and shared the petition, taking the total from 12,000 to 17,000 signatures because they know Neil, his family and the 10,000 refugees they are working for deserve justice. Every day, new supporters – including refugees, advocates, volunteers, SES colleagues and local community members along the way – are keen to walk part of the 1,000 kilometres with Neil to show support for the Walk for Freedom. To date, more than 40 refugees who walked with Neil into Shepparton, visiting the local mosque and enjoying a Hazara lunch together and sharing stories of the impact of lack of permanent visas and certainty on their lives.

Musician Rose Turtle-Ertler from Tasmania who walked with Neil, welcomed Neil in a friend’s home and sang Let Them Stay, the song she wrote for Neil and his family when she met them in 2011.

The many people who walk with Neil and offer their homes to Neil, so he can have a good night’s sleep and a good meal before he continues his journey the next day.

Drivers and support vehicles who stay with Neil while he walks to make sure Neil and others on the roads are safe, taking turns driving and walking with Neil.

Neil would love it if you could be his mate and be a mate for the 10,000 refugees left behind by:

Joining Neil as he walks into Sydney (Friday 8 to Sunday 10 September 2023);

Signing and sharing Neil’s petition – and leaving a comment explaining why you think Neil, his family, and the 10,000 refugees left behind should have a home in Australia.

Union of Australian Refugees Media Release

Neil Para calls for supporters and politicians to join him as he walks 500km to the PM’s office in Sydney.

Refugee Neil Para today reached the halfway mark on his 1000km freedom walk to raise awareness of the impact of continuing uncertainty on refugees living in Australia.

Neil reached the 500km mark at The Rock on Saturday 19^th, day nineteen of his walk.

With huge support from regional refugee advocacy groups, such as Rural Australians for Refugees, Neil will deliver a petition with 17,000 signatures to Mr Albanese’s office. While in Sydney, he will attend a refugee rally organised by Refugee Action Collective.

Neil will arrive in Sydney on 9 September at 4pm.

“I have been overwhelmed by the support throughout Victoria and New South Wales, with positive responses from local communities, politicians and councillors, media, and with refugees and supporters travelling across Victoria and interstate to walk with me. Yet I still have not had a response to my invitation to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.”

Neil is calling for supporters to:

• join him on the second half of his trek, leaving The Rock on Sunday 20^thand arriving in Sydney on 9 September,
• walk with him on the leg from Liverpool to Marrickville arriving on 9 September at 4pm, and
• phone and email local MPs, Prime Minister Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles seeking support so that refugees living in the Australian community for more than 10 years are not left behind.

The coalition of refugee groups supporting Neil’s walk includes Refugee Action Collective, Rural Australians for Refugees and People Like Us.

The coalition has pressed decision-makers not to overlook the legacy caseload of around 10,000 refugees who have been living in the Australian community for 10 years without certainty.

Margaret O’Donnell of Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees said:

“We welcome the news of the ALP’s intention to introduce policy reforms which could substantially lessen the mental health impact for people seeking asylum in Australia.”

“However, it is disappointing that around 10,000 refugees who came to Australia more than 10 years ago continue to be forgotten. This announcement further exacerbates their feelings of being in limbo and the distress caused by restrictions on work, tertiary study, family reunion and their children’s future. We urgently call upon Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to provide certainty and hope for these 10,000 refugees, which includes Neil, [his wife] Sugaa and their three girls.”

Media Release

This World Humanitarian Day, refugee freedom walker Neil Para is calling upon decision-makers to provide an amnesty for all 10,000 refugees still waiting for visas so that all refugee children living in Australia have hope and certainty for the future.

On Saturday, Neil reaches the halfway mark of 500km on his 1000km refugee freedom walk. He is walking on behalf of 10,000 refugees who, after 10 challenging years, are still waiting for permanent visas.

That number includes 2,000 families with children, including many children born here in Australia. Despite having lived and grown up in the community, attended school and having dreams just like their Australian friends, these children are not free to follow their hearts and dreams or enjoy their rights.

The lack of permanent visas has a devastating ongoing impact for parents and children, as well as for families who are not able to reunite.

“Lack of certainty has a devastating impact on all refugees. For families, like my wife Sugaa and our three daughters, it is heart-breaking to see that the children we came to Australia to protect are restricted from working and going to university.”

“I call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to allow refugee children to grow up, follow their dreams, and contribute to the Australian community – just like all other children in Australia. Please provide an amnesty so that all refugees, including families with children, can work, study, build and plan for the future.”

Speaking on The Project on Sunday, 15-year-old Nivash (Neil and Sugaa’s eldest daughter) shared how upsetting it is to see how the lack of certainty about the family’s future affects her parents, who are not able to work to provide for the family.

Nivash also cannot work part-time like her friends, nor can she follow her dreams of studying to become a cardiac surgeon. Nivash has made an emotional plea asking Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Neil at the end of his 1000km walk.

In her second letter to the Prime Minister asking for help she wrote “I don’t really understand politics, but I know what you are doing to my family is unjust and I just hope you find it in your heart to help this family of 5 you’ve been tormenting for the past 10 years.”

Neil and Sugaa’s second daughter, 13-year-old Kartie, is in the same situation. Nive, who was born in Australia, was granted citizenship and a Medicare card when she turned 10.

Throughout Neil’s walk, refugee families have shared heartbreaking stories of the mental health toll of not being able to work and build a life for their children and contribute to a better Australia.

Close family friend and supporter, Shae Duggan said, “It has been heartbreaking to watch the effect of this ongoing cruelty on the Para family over eight years. The girls know nothing else but Australian life, they see themselves as no different to their peers and yet our government withholds any type of future for them. It’s incredibly damaging for these children. The Ballarat people have welcomed this family, they are Ballarat people now and they have shown that they deserve a future here.”

The negative impact of prolonged visa insecurity on refugee families in Australia has been well documented. Visa insecurity leads to poorer mental health outcomes for mothers and children, causing heightened mental anguish for parents. Key factors of a lack of certainty, ongoing trauma resulting from detention, family separation and restrictions on freedom have a long-term mental health toll for parents, with enormous effects on children’s wellbeing.

Neil is calling for permanent visas so that children are not left behind. He is asking that:

1. Children born in Australia should have the same rights as other Australian children.
2. All children who have attended Australian schools should be given Australian citizenship or permanent residency with a pathway to become Australian citizens.
3. All remaining refugees living in Australia should be included in the permanent visas process announced by Andrew Giles on February 13, 2023.

Neil is 500km into a 1000km refugee freedom walk to Prime Minister Albanese’s electorate office in Sydney to raise awareness of the plight of refugees especially those with no visas or visas that don’t give them certainty for their future. Neil’s invitation to meet with Prime Minister Albanese has not yet had a response.

Sign the Change.org petition here.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Media Release

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) National Conference passed a series of amendments to the National Platform today, which further commits the Albanese Government to ensure the rights of people seeking asylum and refugees.

Following an event at the Conference hosted by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) on the need for work rights, study rights and the right to mainstream social support for people seeking asylum, the conference passed two meaningful changes to the platform on this issue.

Firstly, the ALP committed to providing not just work rights, but also study rights to people while their protection claim is being processed; secondly, it strengthened the policy concerning mainstream social support.

Further positive changes include: the recommitment to abolish Temporary Protection Visas and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas; the appointment of a Special Envoy for Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues; enshrining the ‘90 day rule’ into law, which institutes a 3 months deadline for the assessment of refugee applications, and initiating a parliamentary inquiry into immigration detention.

These are welcome and important policies that when implemented will improve the community and lives of people seeking asylum.

You can read ASRC’s submission to the ALP Draft National Convention here.

Ogy Simic, Director of Advocacy at ASRC said: “Today is an important day of progress with the ALP not just recommitting to their platform but making meaningful commitments that when implemented will make a difference in people’s lives.

“We now need the Albanese Government to action these commitments so they are realised for the families and individuals seeking asylum in urgent need of these rights and further protections.”

Sajeeda Saama, Community Organiser at ASRC said: “Policies can either give people life or take it away from them. I have lost my cousin to the hands of the current policy framework just last month, when he gave up hope after years of waiting. I want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to someone else. Today’s changes are a vital step in the right direction to give people hope and ensure the dignity of thousands of human lives.

Paul Schmidt, Coordinator of the ASRA network of service providers in Queensland, said: These changes make plain sense. We need a safety not for people seeking asylum to reduce the impact on their mental health, the reliance on charities and to treat people with dignity.

Emma, a refugee who is waiting for her protection claim to be assessed for more than seven years, said: “As a single parent precluded from mainstream services I have found it impossible to rebuild my life in Australia. I have never been able to have a community because I’m forced to move from place to place depending on what work I can find, which is even more difficult now given the cost of living crisis. The ALPs policies are a step in the right direction but the Labor Government now needs to implement these policies so that people like me and my son can live in safety.

Doesn’t every little girl want the chance to play for the Matildas right now?

With every little girl in Australia dreaming big as the Matildas continue their record-beating World Cup run, Neil Para is calling for decision-makers to provide hope and certainty so that refugee children living in Australia can also dream big.

Neil has just crossed the border into New South Wales, 415 kms into a 1000km walk to raise awareness of the plight of 10,000 refugees who, after 10 challenging years, are still waiting for permanent visas.

That number includes 2,000 families with children, including many children born here in Australia. Despite having lived and grown up in the community, attended school and having dreams just like their Australian friends, these children are not free to follow their hearts and dreams or enjoy their rights.

The lack of permanent visas has a devastating ongoing impact for parents and children, as well as for families who are not able to reunite.

Speaking on The Project on Sunday, 15-year-old Nivash (Neil and Sugaa’s eldest daughter) shared how upsetting it is to see how the lack of certainty about the family’s future affects her parents, who are not able to work to provide for the family.

Nivash also cannot work part-time like her friends, nor can she follow her dreams of studying to become a cardiac surgeon. Nivash has made an emotional plea asking Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet with Neil at the end of his 1000km walk.

In her second letter to the Prime Minister asking for help she wrote:

“I don’t really understand politics, but I know what you are doing to my family is unjust and I just hope you find it in your heart to help this family of 5 you’ve been tormenting for the past 10 years.”

Neil and Sugaa’s second daughter, 13-year-old Kartie, is in the same situation, whilst 10-year-old Nive who was born in Australia has been granted citizenship.

Throughout Neil’s walk, refugee families have shared heartbreaking stories of the mental health toll of not being able to work and build a life for their children and contribute to a better Australia.

Close family friend and supporter, Shae Duggan said,

“It has been heartbreaking to watch the effect of this ongoing cruelty on the Para family over eight years. The girls know nothing else but Australian life, they see themselves as no different to their peers and yet our government withholds any type of future for them. It’s incredibly damaging for these children. The Ballarat people have welcomed this family, they are Ballarat people now and they have shown that they deserve a future here.”

The negative impact of prolonged visa insecurity on refugee families in Australia has been well documented. Visa insecurity leads to poorer mental health outcomes for mothers and children, causing heightened mental anguish for parents. Key factors of a lack of certainty, ongoing trauma resulting from detention, family separation and restrictions on freedom have a long-term mental health toll for parents, with enormous effects on children’s wellbeing.

Neil is calling for permanent visas so that children are not left behind. He is asking that:

1. Children born in Australia should have the same rights as other Australian children.
2. All children who have attended Australian schools should be given Australian citizenship or permanent residency with a pathway to become Australian citizens.
3. All remaining refugees living in Australia should be included in the permanent visas process announced by Andrew Giles on February 13, 2023.

Neil is almost 400km into a 1000km refugee freedom walk to Prime Minister Albanese’s electorate office in Sydney to raise awareness of the plight of refugees especially those with no visas or visas that don’t give them certainty for their future. Neil’s invitation to meet with Prime Minister Albanese has not yet had a response.

As Neil’s daughters, like every other little girl in Australia, wait with anticipation for the Matilda’s first ever semi-final in a FIFA World Cup tonight, Neil asks:

“I call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to allow refugee children to grow up, follow their dreams, and contribute to the Australian community. My girls are just like all other girls in Australia who right now are dreaming that they could one day play for the Matildas. Provide all refugees, including families with children, the ability to work, study, build, plan and dream for the future.”

Neil and his wife Sugaa are Sri Lankan refugees living in Ballarat. With their three daughters, they have lived with uncertainty for 11 years. With no visa, they are not allowed to work or have access to Medicare. His daughters’ access to tertiary study is affected too. Neil is asking for a permanent visa to give certainty to his family.

Neil will present a petition to Mr Albanese’s office (which has already attracted more than 16,000 signatures) urging permanent visas for the 10,000 who were overlooked when Mr Giles announced in February that some refugees could apply for permanent residency.

Sign the Change.org petition here.

Refugee Action Collective (Vic) Media Release

Refugee advocates are concerned that certain criminal charges laid in 2021 against the Department of Home Affairs have not yet proceeded to trial. The charges relate to the unprevented suicide of a detainee at Sydney’s Villawood immigration detention centre on 4 March 2019.

Ian Rintoul of Sydney’s Refugee Action Coalition and Refugee Action Collective (Victoria) spokesperson, Max Costello, are asking, “Will this case proceed? Or will it be permanently ‘stayed’ by the presiding magistrate?”

Costello, a retired health and safety prosecutor, explains the legal background. “All immigration detention facilities, including Villawood, are Commonwealth workplaces, because immigration is a federal government matter. Accordingly, they come under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

“Inspectors of the Act’s regulator, Comcare, investigated the suicide circumstances, and prepared a brief of evidence: it underpins the charges that were laid against Home Affairs, and another defendant, in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on 3 March 2021.”

Comcare’s 10 March 2021 media release elaborates: “The Department of Home Affairs and its healthcare provider International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) have been charged with breaching Commonwealth work health and safety laws over the death of a man in immigration detention.

“… the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has filed two charges each against Home Affairs and IHMS alleging they failed in their duties under the federal Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

“The charges relate to an incident on 4 March 2019 where a 26-year-old Iraqi national took his own life at Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.

“It is alleged that Home Affairs and IHMS failed to provide and maintain a safe system of work at the facility as part of their health and safety duties that extend to detainees.

“It is also alleged that Home Affairs and IHMS failed to provide necessary training, information and supervision to mental health staff in relation to their care for the detainee.

“Each charge … [carries] a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.”

What’s happened since then? Court records reveal that, in 2022, Home Affairs and IHMS applied to have their charges permanently ‘stayed’ – deferred indefinitely, never to be heard. In response, the court adjourned the matters.

Eventually, in early May this year, magistrate Shields heard both defendants argue in full their case for a permanent stay. On 3 May, his Honour indicated that, on 25 August, he would make a yes or no decision on their application.

“The possibility that these charges might never be heard is deeply concerning”, says Ian Rintoul. “Since the 2019 suicide, there have been at least four other suicides and numerous suicide attempts in Villawood, including one in January 2023. Nothing has changed.

“The root cause of these tragedies is the excruciating cruelty of extended, sometimes indefinite, detention. Labor should scrap this regime that locks people up just for being a non-citizen.

“A prosecution would see that regime publicly scrutinized in open court. A guilty verdict and substantial fines would hold Home Affairs and IHMS to account, and deter future non-compliance with the WHS Act’s duties of care.”

Max Costello added, “The charges laid in this matter are the first and only charges brought by Comcare against the Department (or IHMS). That’s despite the fact that I, and fellow RAC (Vic) member Margaret Sinclair (Dip WHS), have (separately) written to Comcare a total of 76 times since 2014, providing evidence of apparent WHS Act criminal offences and asking Comcare to take enforcement action. But every time, Comcare says its inspectors have found no evidence of a breach of the Act.”

Margaret Sinclair comments, “Granting permanent stays could involve three cruel implications. The deceased man’s family would be robbed of justice; detainees could well believe that the law will never protect them; and Home Affairs/IHMS might conclude that unlawful, potentially fatal neglect of detainee health and safety can be engaged in with impunity.”

“A final, serious concern”, says Ian Rintoul, “is that Home Affairs has been maintaining its application for a permanent stay even under Labor. The charges allege offending in 2019, when the Morrison Liberal-National government was in office and Peter Dutton was the Home Affairs minister.

“But Labor’s Clare O’Neil became the minister in May 2022. Surely Labor would want to see Home Affairs and IHMS held to account. The only constant is that Michael Pezzullo was, and is, the departmental Secretary.

“We call on minister O’Neil to forthwith instruct Secretary Pezzullo to ASAP write to the court withdrawing the department’s stay application. Justice can then take its course.”

Media Release

Refugee freedom walker Neil Para and the coalition of refugee groups supporting him welcome the increase in the humanitarian intake announced yesterday by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.

Advocates remind decision-makers that there are thousands of refugee and asylum seekers already here urgently needing permanent visas.

There are refugees who have lived here for more than a decade in limbo without permanent visas, access to jobs, study or Medicare and are already contributing to and part of the Australian community.

The coalition supporting Neil Para includes Refugee Action Coalition (RAC), People Just Like Us (PJLU) and Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) and more.

Ian Rintoul from RAC said the additional 2125 are expected to come from overseas.

“We welcome any increase in the humanitarian intake; though we are mindful that there are around 10,000 refugees already in Australia who are victims of the Morrison fast track system that urgently need permanent visas,” he said.

Neil Para formed the Union of Australian Refugees this year to help give refugees a voice and is one-third of the way through a 1000km refugee freedom walk to Prime Minister Albanese’s electorate office in Sydney to raise awareness of their plight especially those with no visas or visas that don’t give them certainty for their future.

Commenting on Mr Giles’ announcement Mr Para said: “That is why we formed the Union; we are a voice for refugees who are already in Australia. We welcome the minister’s announcement but we want the minister to please end the uncertainty for those who are already here.

“Mr Albanese said yesterday that Australia can do its share as part of being a responsible nation that has always been generous.

“We call on Mr Albanese and Mr Giles to live up to that and in the good Aussie tradition of a fair go, please give embrace refugees who have lived here for over a decade and are already part of Australia and wish to contribute more.”

Neil, a Sri Lankan refugee from Ballarat has lived here for 11 years in uncertainty with his wife and three daughters without a permanent visa, is not permitted a job or continuous Medicare. His daughters’ access to tertiary study is affected too.

He will present a petition to Mr Albanese’s office (which has already attracted more than 16,000 signatures) urging permanent visas for the group who were ignored when Mr Giles announced in February that certain refugees could apply for permanent residency.

Chair of Ballarat RAR, Margaret O’Donnell said Australia had room enough for both groups. “Refugees in Shepparton who met Neil this week, just for example, play a vital role in the local economy as orchardists and cannery workers.”

“We applaud the federal government decision to build a kinder country and every increase is a step towards a more inclusive, compassionate and culturally rich Australia,” Mrs O’Donnell said.

It makes sense to start by processing those already here. People like Neil are already contributing and poised to do more.

“Becoming a permanent citizen could offer many refugees precious family reunion opportunities, work rights, more affordable tertiary study options for their children and Medicare access. Those building this nation also aspire to vote.

“Not many Aussies are crazy about contributing tax but for refugees the ability to pay tax represents an important milestone. There are thousands on temporary visas who hope to take the next step.”

RAR members have been supporting Neil along the way and everywhere he goes, people are empathetic to the cause.

Convoys of refugees have travelled from Melbourne to share their frustrations. At a meeting in Shepparton this week refugees who met with Neil told their stories of heartbreak and uncertainty.

Sign the Change.org petition here.

Media release

Sri Lankan refugee and asylum seeker Neil Para has completed 329km of his 1000-kilometre walk for freedom to raise awareness of the plight of refugees in Australia: especially those with no visas or visas that don’t give them certainty for their future.

Blisters are kicking in but Neil’s spirits are high due to so much support along the way from locals, travellers beeping horns and stopping to cheer him on and fellow refugees even travelling from Melbourne to relay their stories and support Neil.

Neil left Ballarat on August 1 and is trekking to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office in Marrickville, Sydney arriving in September. From Neil’s heartland to Albo’s.

With massive support from regional refugee advocacy groups, such as Rural Australians for Refugees, Neil plans to deliver a petition to Mr Albanese’s office and later attend a refugee rally organised by Refugee Action Collective.

Neil is averaging 30km per day. His location is currently Benalla in Victoria. He is being supported on stages of his journey by different drivers.

The dangers of walking along the highway particularly worry Neil’s family. His daughter has written to Albanese about her concerns for Neil and begging for timely Ministerial Intervention to head off undue risk.

Neil says: “My steps may be powerful but my energy comes from people like you.”

Local Rural Australians for Refugee members are providing meals, accommodation and support vehicles in a huge, carefully co-ordinated effort.

Mayors are meeting Neil along with a group of supporters and refugees and Neil presented each town with a copy of a book he has written, telling his story.

A large group of mainly Hazara refugees living in the Shepparton region met with Neil. The contribution of those who fled the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan to our regional economy cannot be over-stated.

The petition urges permanent residency (visas) for about 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers like Neil who cannot legally earn an income because they have been waiting for years for the Australian Government to grant them a visa that allows them to work.

15,000 signatures on petition

The petition has now topped 15,000 signatures. Greens Senator Nick McKim from Tasmania thanked people for signing and supporting Neil “as he sets out on his massive walk to draw attention to the thousands of people who, like him, had their claims for asylum rejected under the former government’s dodgy fast track assessment process.”

People can sign the petition here.

Ballarat city councillor Belinda Coates said: “Neil gives back so much to this community. You are doing this to adjust what has been happening to many in this country for too long. I hope this is the start of change.”

At the walk launch Brett Edgington secretary of Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council said: “Neil is the bravest man I know. At the end of this we hope that one day, we can attend Neil, Sugaa and the girls’ ceremony to become citizens, wouldn’t that be a wonderful moment. Ten years too long. Neil is very much a part of this community.”

Lieke Janssen from Refugee Action Collective said: “Neil is walking 1000km for himself, his family and 10,000 people that are still being left behind under the Albanese’s ‘No-one-will-be left-behind’ government. Politicians do not need to hide behind the ‘We cannot comment on individual cases’ excuse. Neil is walking for thousands. Every politician should come stand behind Neil and the thousands that deserve this.

“1000km is gonna be challenging and hard but it’s nothing compared with the challenges these refugees have been living with without a permanent visa for so long, every day they face consequences of living without this security. We need permanent visas and freedom now.”

Around ten thousand refugees missed out when the Federal Government announced in February that refugees who held Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas could apply for permanent visas.

Neil is currently denied work rights, study rights and even Medicare access. Above all, his family lacks certainty about the future.

Apart from being granted freedom to work, Neil also wants refugees to be granted the freedom to vote, become an Australian citizen and have the essential rights that Australian citizens do.

Neil has lived in Australia in limbo for 11 years without a permanent visa, steady job or continuous Medicare with his wife Sugaa and their three young daughters: Nivash, Kartie and Australian-born Nive who has Australian citizenship.

They have lived under various immigration restrictions even though they are ambitious to build careers. Neil was a hairdresser in Sri Lanka and hopes to become a police officer in Australia, while Sugaa aspires to be an aged care worker.

The Federal Government’s Resolution of Status (RoS) permanent visa announcement this year paved the way for permanent visas for 19,000 refugees with a pathway to citizenship and family reunion (who were on temporary protection or safe haven enterprise visas at the time of the announcement). Sadly, Neil is one of thousands still missing out. Most of these were maritime arrivals.

Beyond trying to find certainty for his family, (for whom return to strife-torn Sri Lanka would still be dangerous as Neil is on an airport watch list), Neil is advocating for refugees who’ve been left behind in similar circumstances to him.

It’s a wide open road for the stateless

“I’m calling on the government to end the uncertainty for all refugees seeking a safe home. Please grant us permanent visas, health and the freedom to work,” Neil said. “I am also walking so that refugee children can have certainty.”

In the petition Neil says: “I fled war and persecution in Sri Lanka. Asylum seekers like me from militarised parts of the world seek safety in Australia. Instead, we experienced 14 months of detention in immigration detention centres that almost broke our spirit. But we are resilient, and we carry the hope that we’ll call Australia home one day. Australia represents refuge from the turmoil we were escaping.”

“Now I stand with refugees as the founder of the Union of Australian Refugees (UAR).”

Neil says in the petition: “We are tired of living in limbo. It has been more than a decade. We have spent time in detention, the harshest time of our lives, but there is still no clarity about our status. We cannot return to a country where we don’t feel safe and we don’t feel at home. We yearn to contribute to the society we now call home.”

Neil’s immigration odyssey is described in greater detail in his book (link below). The family fled Sri Lanka to Malaysia where they remained for four years having been given refugee status by the United Nations. They came to Australia by boat and lived in detention in Darwin, then community detention in Dandenong before they came to Ballarat in 2013 (to seek fast-track visas, after applying for a permanent visa while in detention). Unfortunately, after four months in Ballarat their bridging visas were revoked, leaving the couple almost suicidal.

“We didn’t know what we were going to do, we didn’t even speak English,” Neil said.

Ten years later, Neil’s family is still waiting, and the strain of living on the charity of friends without any certainty has taken a huge toll on their mental health.

The family survives through the generosity of the local community, groups such as Rural Australians for Refugees, friends and allies.

Neil and Sugaa do volunteer work in Ballarat to give back to the local community which has supported them. Both have been continuously involved in community committees. Neil is a tireless volunteer for the SES and leads a crew, while Sugaa has volunteered for years in aged care (Ballarat Health Services) and at the visitor information centre. Their eldest daughter also volunteers at Vinnies and Ballarat Information Centre. Their volunteering has attracted awards.

The couple learnt English through their volunteer roles as their non-resident status precluded them from formal study.

Neil has also arranged local events in Ballarat to raise awareness of the mental health issues that refugees and asylum seekers experience due to being denied residency and the right to work.

Neil’s goals for the Walk

1. Children born in Australia should be given Citizenship with the same rights as other Australian children.
2. All children who go to or went to Australian schools should also be given Citizenship or permanent residency with a pathway to become Australian citizens.
3. More refugees who are now residing in Australia should be included in the permanent visas process announced by Andrew Giles on February 13.2023.

Refugee Action Coalition Media Release

ALERT: TEN YEARS TOO BLOODY LONG RALLIES CALL FOR AN END TO OFFSHORE DETENTION

July 19 marked the 10^th anniversary of then Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, signing the PNG deal and his announcement that no refugee sent offshore would ever be resettled in Australia. After 19 July 2013, out of the 7832 people seeking asylum who arrived in Australia by boat, 3127 were forcibly sent from Christmas Island to Manus Island or Nauru.

Following rallies today (Saturday 22 July) in Perth and Melbourne, there will be rallies in Brisbane, Canberra, and Sydney, on Sunday 23 July, to demand an end to offshore processing, and permanent visas for all offshore refugees and the victims of fast-track processing. Attached are photos of a protest held outside ALP Treasurer Jim Chalmers electoral office on 19 July and a protest at Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil’s electoral office on 21 July.)

“Labor has a particular responsibility to end offshore detention and bring those still held offshore to Australia,” said Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition, “It was a Labor government in 2013 that implemented the PNG deal. And it is the current Albanese Labor government that is keeping 75 refugees in PNG.”

“A determined campaign finally got the last refugee off Nauru this month. Labor is on notice, we will keep fighting to get all the refugees from PNG evacuated from PNG and brought to Australia. And for all those from PNG and Nauru in Australia to get permanent visas.”

Shannen Potter, a delegate to Labor’s August national conference will speak at the Sydney rally in support of the Labor for Refugee’s motion to the national conference calling for an end to offshore detention.

Labor’s claim that they are not responsible for the refugees in PNG has been blown out of the water after by today’s revelation that there is a secret deal between Australia and PNG to fund the refugees they dumped there ten years ago. Yet, the Albanese government has refused to transfer any of the refugees to Australia.

Around 1100 refugees brought from PNG and Nauru are in the Australian community on bridging visas; they need permanent visas. Twelve thousand asylum seekers denied refugee status under Morrison’s fast track process also need permanent visas.

Albanese claims that Labor can be “tough on border protection without being weak on humanity,” but after a year in office Labor is showing it really is weak on humanity.

Photo credit: Refugee Action Coalition

Headlines come and go, but this one repeats itself with a familiar refrain: “In one week, three Australian women were allegedly killed by men they knew.”

Why?

The figures are staggering. Despite the programmes we instigate and the enormous amounts of money we invest to combat domestic violence, on average one woman is killed by a husband or partner every week.

Should I repeat that? One woman has her life taken from her by a man close to her every week.

Three women were allegedly killed by a man close to them a couple of weeks ago.

“Christine Rakic, Amira Moghnieh, and a woman in the Northern Territory had their lives terminated.”

The people who analyse these things use words that make you think, but it’s hard to get one’s head around it, the why of it seems beyond me.

“The advocates in this area say things like “absolutely horrifying.” Domestic and family violence experts say violence against women is at “epidemic proportions.”

All the statistics combined tell a story that might be called “How they suffer for their femineity.”

Tarang Chawla, an anti-violence advocate, recently told SBS News that.

“At a human level, it is absolutely horrifying.

“It’s horrible that we’ve had to have so many tragedies in such a short space of time for us to really take stock, listen and think about why this is occurring and what we need to do to stop it from happening with such frequency.”

I have heard Chawla speak of his own experience on ABC’s The Drum.

He had lived through a similar experience, losing his sister Nikita in 2015 when she was murdered by her husband in Melbourne. He urged the community to understand the true human cost of particularly men’s violence against women.

“When we talk about these things in the media, we sometimes gloss over the fact that these are real human beings and the tragedy will have lifelong consequences – and that’s the people who are left behind.

“The families of these people will never be the same.”

It has now become a familiar story. One that I have written about myself and in the annals of my own family history, I wonder if my mother may have experienced similar acts of cowardice.

Then I heard that police had raided the homes of almost six hundred male offenders due to the three murders mentioned earlier. The NSW police targeted the state’s most dangerous domestic violence offenders and turned up illegal firearms and guns – and a corn snake (whatever that is).

“The four-day operation dubbed Amarok III resulted in 1107 domestic violence charges being laid against 592 people, who were mostly men, but there were at least two women.”

As I read on, I’m told that 139 men were arrested, and of these, 103 had outstanding warrants for violent offences and were amongst NSW’s most dangerous offenders.

The article went on to say that of those charged, many face other severe offences, including prohibited firearm and weapon possession, drug possession and supply.

From what I have read to this point, I am shocked at the criminal element involved in Domestic Violence. It’s enough to overwhelm one’s emotions.

Am I that naive I ask myself to have not known this?

“Some 139 were amongst NSW’s most dangerous offenders, and 103 had outstanding warrants for violent offences. Some of those charged also face other serious offences, including prohibited firearm and weapon possession, drug possession and supply.

Police seized 22 firearms and 40 prohibited weapons, as well as various types of illicit drugs located with 89 detections.”

An article from The Courier quotes many more facts and figures, saying:

“We know domestic and family violence is one of the most under-reported crime types.”

That I am left in a state of shock would be an understatement.

Reporting for news.com.au, Blake Antrobus says that:

“… specialist teams such as the Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender Teams (DVHROT) were also involved in the operation.”

“The NSW Police Force invests significant resources into responding to domestic and family violence, attending some 139,000 calls for assistance in 2022 – with more than 33,100 of those actual assaults and 17 domestic-related murders.”

What, in God’s name, I ask myself, am I missing here? What if I were to multiply all these facts and figures across the nation? The statistics would be incredible.

They have undoubtedly worsened because of the Covid pandemic and multiplied again due to the economic crisis and cost of living problems. And these figures don’t mention what I shall call the non-criminal cohort. However, I might be corrected on that one.

The next question I ask myself, is what is to be done? In the totality of what I know, I suggest seeing the crisis as a community problem; not just a family one. We should educate ourselves on the subject. Be prepared to report cases of abuse. Enlighten our children about what it means.

What exactly causes men to commit these terrible acts of abuse? What makes us tighten our fists and strike out? Low self-esteem, culture, misogyny, tempestuous or explosive personality, incubus personality, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. Anyone with these personality disorders might commit domestic violence when under the influence of drugs.

Our first port of call must be education. To familiarise ourselves with the problem and arm ourselves with all the information we can digest and then speak it.

Refugee Action Coalition Media Release

An African immigration detainee was found dead in his room in Hotham Compound, Villawood detention centre, around 9.00am this morning, Friday, 30 June.

It is believed the man died from a drug overdose. It is understood that the man was a humanitarian refugee, who has a wife and family in Sydney, but whose permanent visa had been cancelled because he had breached covid restrictions.

The man was one of those immigration detainees who was released at the end of 2022 due to a High Court decision, but who was re-detained early this year, after Labor changed the law. (See February press release).

For many of the detainees, the overdose death is an ‘accident waiting to happen.” One Villawood detainee told the Refugee Action Coalition that ‘it is surprising that drug deaths are not more common in here, given how easy it is to obtain drugs in Villawood’.

“Drugs are rife in Villawood, there is nothing that you can’t get inside the detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “Drugs are regarded as just another way of maintaining a more manageable and compliant detention population.

“Prolonged immigration detention creates the circumstances in which drug use becomes more common. This responsibility for this needless death lies with the immigration minister,” said Rintoul.

The Department of Home Affairs and detention medical provider, International Health and Medical Services Pty Ltd (IHMS), are already the subject of court proceedings regarding the suicide death of a detainee in Villawood in 2019.

In that case it is alleged that both Home Affairs and IHMS had seriously neglected the mental health of the detainee who took his own life.

“There are obviously similar considerations in a case of an overdose death,” said Ian Rintoul.

“There needs to be a full inquiry not just into the immediate cause of death, but an inquiry that deals with the supply of drugs in Villawood and circumstances of this man’s detention. From everything we know, the man should not have been in immigration detention.”

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has said many times that the government is committed to “risk-based immigration detention policies”, and that “people should be living in the community if they do not pose a risk.”

“Section 501 of the Migration Act should be repealed. It allows explicit discrimination and extra-judicial punishment just because people are not Australian citizens. Now it has inflicted a death sentence; for what?”