Media Release

Refugee advocates are calling for the new Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Tony Burke, to urgently provide victims of the flawed Fast Track process with permanent protection visas.

Thousands of people have been living in limbo for more than 11 years because their claims were not properly assessed under the unfair Fast Track process introduced by the Abbott Government in 2014.

Refugee supporters are calling for urgent protection to address the widespread mental health and homelessness issues arising from the lack of a safety net and certainty while refugees wait for their protection claims to be heard.

The call comes as Iranian and Tamil refugees in Melbourne embark on their fourth week of camping outside in freezing weather in a 24-hour-a-day protest to highlight the need for permanent protection.

According to Rathy Barthlote, Eelam Tamil refugee, mother of two, and co- founder of Refugee Women Action for Visa Equality:

“I fled the genocidal war in Sri Lanka and came to Australia with my husband. For the past 21 days, we’ve been protesting under extreme conditions, sleeping outside and demonstrating 24/7. We are urgently calling on the government to grant us permanent visas, as we have reached a desperate point.”

“Having been part of this community for over 12 years, it is very difficult for us to continue living in limbo. We need certainty, which is why we’re demanding immediate action from the government. We will not end this protest until we receive a response. We have lives too. We need freedom. We need certainty.”

From 15 July-28 July, refugees camped in tents outside Clare O’Neil’s Oakleigh office. On 29 July, following the announcement of the new Minister Tony Burke, refugees relocated to the Department of Home Affairs office, 800 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

These refugees live on temporary bridging visas which means:

• Heartache and anxiety caused by being separated for years from loved ones who are still in situations of great uncertainty or danger.
• Some do not have the right to work and many endure long periods without access to Medicare.
• Most young people on a bridging visa cannot study at university, even though they have done all their schooling in Australia.
• None can access the safety net of Centrelink supports and increasing numbers of people are at risk of homelessness.

According to Associate Professor Caroline Fleay, Centre for Human Rights Education at Curtin University:

“Australia’s Fast Track process has created a human rights tragedy for thousands of people who have not had a fair hearing for their protection claims. The Albanese Government has long recognised the unfairness of Fast Track and one of its first actions was to grant permanent visas to the Nadesalingam family so they could return to Biloela. We urge the new minister to finish the job and bring the remaining refugees seeking protection in out of the cold.”

Speaking on behalf of Grandmothers for Refugees, Janet Joss said:

“Grandmothers for Refugees urges the Albanese Government to end the prolonged uncertainty faced by thousands of families who have been waiting for permanent visas for over a decade. Many of these individuals, who arrived under similar conditions as those granted visas, are essential workers contributing to our society. It is time to uphold the principle of a fair go for all.”

According to Paul Dalzell, President, Rural Australians for Refugees:

“We thank Ministers Giles and O’Neil for their inroads into a more compassionate approach for refugee and asylum seekers. Now is the time for Labor to complete their reform agenda as set out in their 2022 election platform – and take the reins on eradicating divisive politics around the issue of refugee rights.”

Ann Ly, Local Government Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum:

“We need resolution of visa status for people impacted by the unfair Fast Track assessment process, including families with children who are now Australian citizens. Resolving the uncertainty by granting permanent visas to this finite group of people will end the issue and enable them to rebuild their lives in safety and freedom.”

Karen Elkington and Sandy Boyce, Co-Chairs, Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce:

The fast-track process has proven to be demonstrably unfair to asylum seekers, with many wrongly processed and facing significant ongoing challenges. We urge the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Tony Burke, to pursue a robust and fair refugee determination system, and to urgently provide victims of the Fast Track process with permanent protection.

For media queries and to arrange interviews/vision with refugees, call:

Sandy Watson 0401 714 880 (Rural Australians for Refugees)
Marie Hapke 0409 252 673 (Australian Refugee Action Network)
Rathy Barthlote 0435 849 592

Rathy (closest) and refugees enduring the winter extremes outside the Department of Home Affairs in Melbourne (Photo credit: NISHANTH BARTHLOTE)