An ongoing 24/7 refugee rally is taking place in front of Minister for Immigration Tony Burke’s office. The rally, which has gathered a crowd of approximately 200-400 (and up to 700) people on peak days, is centred around the urgent call for permanent visas for long term asylum seekers and in Australia.
This rally is particularly significant as asylum seekers on temporary bridging, and expired, visas are staying on-site 24/7, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to finding a solution. The atmosphere is charged with the hopes and dreams of individuals who have contributed to Australian society for years if not decades and are now seeking the security and stability that comes with permanent residency.
We believe this is an important story that deserves attention and would be grateful if you could come and cover the event. Your coverage could spotlight the experiences and struggles of refugees who have been living in uncertainty for too long.
We met the office manager of Tony Burke’s electoral office on 12th and 13th August with community representatives (from Tamils, Iranians, Kurds, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Parachinar, Afghans, Bangladeshis) affected by the rejection of fast track protection applications.
We had three requests:
(i) to convene a meeting with the Minister, at the earliest possible date, to discuss a solution for the 10,000 people who have been rejected under the “fast track” system;
(ii) to regularise the bridging visas of all the “fast track” victims so that they all, regardless of where they are in the process, up to and including Ministerial Intervention, have bridging visas with work rights and Medicare;
(iii) for the government to establish a process that will provide a pathway to permanent residency for all the “fast track” and “Medevac” survivors.
We acknowledge that the noise of chanting disrupts residents and tenants of the mall building. We have been constructive about their needs, but our voice is all we have to be heard by the Minister. The power to change the lives and future of more than 10,000 people who have been part of Australian society for more than a decade, remains in the hands of the Minister.
We agreed that when we receive an email from the office confirming that our request to meet the Minister has been forwarded to the Minister, we will suspend chanting at the protest, pending getting a positive reply for a meeting date with the Minister.
The protesters will meet again on Friday to consider our undertaking in regard to the chanting.
We made it clear that the protest will continue 24/7, until we get a response in writing that there is a date to meet the Minister.
Survivors of offshore detention and the Medevac process who are recognised refugees have been blocked from obtaining Permanent Visas, regardless of their talents, trauma and overall experience.
They have also been used as deterrents and in limbo 11 years.
They deserve a safe home here, too.
Burke will also be aware that his political challengers in Watson are eager to express solidarity with us.
There are ongoing 24/7 vigils and rallies in Melbourne connected to the issues. Brisbane and Adelaide are starting up next week.
Today is the anniversary of deaths of young female pupils bombed in 2006. This event affected many of those participating in the rallies as they were classmates in the corresponding boys’ school.
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