By Jane Salmon
10,000 people have no rights in Australia because they have been mishandled by Morrison’s fast track system. There is no pathway to permanency for them.
They have run the gauntlet of courts, expensive lawyers and more.
They have nowhere else to go.
This is their home.
Labor has not come up with a solution. Hell, O’Neill would not even meet with them.
They have had 12 years or more here. Their kids grew up here.
They get temporary work, pay tax, but have few rights. No tertiary study access for example. No permanent employment in areas they were trained for. Their Medicare paperwork is never up to date. Not their fault!
Meanwhile we grizzle about a national skills shortage! Happy National Skills Week everyone!
We have teachers, nurses, tradies, carers, warehouse staff, chefs, phlebotomists and front line workers of every kind.
Some business owners without permanency pay $150k per quarter & hire a dozen staff.
They are ready to build houses, not take yours.
Negative gearing policy and Air B&B affects housing supply more than legitimising people who already lived here for a decade.
Using people as deterrents or examples for decades on end is cruel.
These are enterprising people. They work harder than you or I to get by. They bring culture and insight. They just didn’t win the birth lottery.
There is a difference between an economic migrant and a refugee. Sometimes we get the settings wrong.
We are not full. Muddle-headed racism is being used to scapegoat these people for bad policies or our own mediocrity. Compassion is better than selfish discrimination.
They have few legal options. Making an uncomfortable amount of noise outside Tony Burke’s office is one of them.
Western Sydney is a melting pot. Even safe seats like Watson may be under threat if a rum anti immigrant brew is allowed to ferment in Punchbowl.
Dr Ziad Basyouny can see what is needed. He is here to create pressure on Labor so that they stop mirroring the LNP.
We are shouting today because the Burke accessibility stunt of last week means nothing. Stalling until the election might suit Tony, but it does not impress those who expect him to govern well and govern right now.
Me, I want to work, learn music, weed my veggies, smell the freesias and walk the dog, not stand around yelling.
The media says a woman being dragged by the hair and hit in the head while smiling neo Nazis filmed in Docklands last Wednesday is not news. The same guy turned up in SS black with 17 masked mates on the Friday.
Meanwhile other women at the 40 day overnight vigil in Docklands have to sleep with both eyes open. On Day 50 we will have a women only vigil.
Each person at each vigil, be it Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane has a really challenging and interesting story. They are here morning and night because they are determined.
Fix this, Tony Burke. It has been done before for 19,000 and can be done again now.
Cover them please.
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