News from our member organisations.
Once again we have witnessed the tragedy of people dying in their attempt to reach Australia. This time it was Hazara families. This tragedy brings out the best and worst of responses. Reactions are varied from compassion and commiseration to some of the most hateful and brutal of comments. Most of this is driven by ignorance of the reasons why people take a risky boat journey. So here are some facts you may wish to share. Right now in Quetta,…
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A court decision yesterday has meant that up to 120 asylum seekers may avoid deportation to Afghanistan. Immigration Minister Chris Bowen’s handling of the Afghan man’s case was described as “disturbing” and deemed unlawful and unfair. Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre briefly explains: Russell Kennedy Lawyers have successfully represented a 34 year old Hazara man in a Federal Court application to prevent him being forcibly returned to Afghanistan without his claims for asylum being assessed in accordance with the law. At 2pm yesterday, Justice…
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It is understood that a large number of Hazara asylum seekers are under threat of deportation to Afghanistan. A pivotal decision from 5 judges in the federal Court will be handed down in Melbourne Federal Court at 2pm on Wednesday 20 March 2013. One hundred and twenty Hazara lives hang in the balance of this decision. Already six Hazara men who have been re-detained for deportation, have had their removal stayed as a result of this as yet still outstanding decision.…
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Victoria joins the other Australian states in “hosting” families in a 300 place detention centre at MITA in Broadmeadows. The first buses rolled in last week with families and children on board to MITA 3. The detention construction industry has it down to a fine art now- dongas (temporary huts) are trucked in, a concrete apron is rolled out, a corrugated iron roof dropped over the top and rows and rows of fencing rolled out and bingo- home to asylum…
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On Sunday 21st October 2012, approximately 300 people attended a community protest action to show their concern about the return to off-shore processing on Nauru and Manus Island. The refugee community and refugee advocates have been shocked and disappointed that the Government has moved to re-introduce some of the worst aspects of Howards’ ‘Pacific Solution’. The intention is for refugees to be abandoned for years on Nauru and Manus Island. Under the ‘No Advantage’ principle refugees arriving in Australia by boat will be…
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