Refugee Advocacy Network - Page 25 of 39 - A coalition of Victorian groups campaigning for rights for refugees in Australia

Refugee Action Collective reiterates its strong opposition to all offshore processing

June 28, 2012

The Refugee Action Collective condemns the Gillard Labor government’s support for the bill moved by Rob Oakeshott that passed through the lower house tonight, Wednesday, the 27th of June. RAC condemns the opportunism of both sides of parliament, seeking to gain politically out of two boat disasters in the last week. Offshore processing does not protect lives, but seeks to deter asylum seekers from fleeing to save them. Gillard hopes to deter refugees from getting on boats by dumping boat…

United Nations launches My Life as a Refugee Android app

June 27, 2012

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News

As the great Tom Petty once said, you don’t have to live like a refugee, but one UN agency is hoping you’ll at least download its new app to see what it could be like. My Life as a Refugee is designed to raise awareness about the plight of millions of people living in conflict-ridden places around the globe, and it’s available right now for free on Android (coming soon to iOS). We found the app to be only marginally…

Greens take proposal for safer pathways to cross-party meeting on refugees

June 27, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

After consultations with experts in refugee law and protection from the Asia-Pacific region, the Greens will this morning work with concerned parliamentarians to begin negotiating a way through the current impasse on immigration policy. “The Greens approach these talks with ideas we’ve gathered from our discussions with refugee experts from across the region including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “In talks with Asia-Pacific humanitarian and refugee agencies yesterday representatives urged Australia to uphold our…

Asylum boat tragedy could have been averted: policy change can save lives; rescue too slow

June 24, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

From the timeline of contacts between Australian authorities and the capsized asylum boat indicated by Home Affairs Ministers, Jason Clare, it seems that more timely action by the Australian rescue authorities could have averted the latest asylum boat tragedy. “There is a need for a full inquiry into the information that all Australian authorities had about this boat,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. “The lack of coordination between Indonesia and Australian rescue authorities is a serious…

Government to blame for asylum seeker deaths at sea

June 24, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

The lives of nearly 100 asylum seekers feared drowned at sea between Australia and Indonesia were entirely preventable. The Refugee Action Collective places the blame for these lives lost with the Australian government and demands people smuggling is decriminalised to prevent any further loss of life. “Refugees are some of the world’s most vulnerable people. They need our help, not the various stages of torture we put them through to try and stop them from seeking asylum. We should help…