Migration Action
May 20, 2005
Dear Friends,
Today, the Uniting Church has issued a press release responding to the Private Members Bills from Petro Georgiou MP proposing amendments to the Migration Act regarding mandatory detention and permanent protection.
UnitingJustice Australia is calling on all members of the Uniting Church to contact their local federal MPs urging them to support these Bills.
The Mandatory Detention Bill seeks to implement a system of judicial review for people held in detention for longer than 90 days. Unless a case is made for continued detention, after 90 days people would be released on a bridging visa with rights while their case is determined. The same would apply to people whose applications have been unsuccessful but who cannot be returned home. In effect, these proposals would end the system of indefinite, unreviewable detention. In the case of children, the Bill specifies that detention is to be a measure of last resort.
The Act of Compassion Bill seeks to institute a position of Judicial Assessor to independently assess the cases of people who have been in detention for longer than 12 months and all children and their families currently in detention for release on a bridging visa with rights. It also proposes that permanent residence be offered to all temporary protection visa holders (unconditional) and all people who cannot be returned home (provided some conditions have been met).
These prospoals for change to the Migration Act 1958 mark the most positive step we have seen towards a just and fair policy from either side of politics.
PLEASE CONSIDER CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL FEDERAL MEMBER (ESPECIALLY, BUT NOT ONLY, COALITION MEMBERS) BY PHONE, EMAIL, MAIL OR FAX URGING THEM TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS.
While some aspects of these proposed changes do not go as far as we would like, at this point in time, they are the best hope for asylum seekers and refugees who still face the daily abuse of an unjust system.
Please forward this request to as many people as you can.
Many thanks in anticipation of your support.
Rev. Elenie Poulos
National Director
UnitingJustice Australia
Migration Act - (UCA - press release)
May 20, 2005
Wednesday 25 May 2005
Church welcomes changes for a decent immigration policy
The Uniting Church today welcomed the proposed changes to the Migration Act 1958 and urged the Coalition backbench to support the Private Members Bills when they come before Parliament.
The President of the Uniting Church, the Reverend Dr Dean Drayton, expressed the Church’s thanks to Petro Georgiou, Judi Moylan and Bruce Baird for their ongoing commitment to changing what is an inhumane and unjust policy.
We know that they are not the only Coalition members to visit immigration detention centres and we call on those who have to remember the faces of the people they met and the hopelessness in their eyes. These are people who have done nothing more than seek our protection and care but we have destroyed their lives with a harsh and unjust policy. We ask Government members to support these Bills so we can have a decent immigration policy, Rev. Drayton said.
The proposed changes to the mandatory detention regime recognise that the current policy is unsustainable and damaging to people well-being, as well as being contrary to our international human rights obligations. They propose a fairer and more accountable system, providing checks and balances such as judicial and independent review. They seek an end to the indiscriminate and indefinite detention of asylum seekers in favour of a system that is a more accurate reflection of Australia’s generous and compassionate heart, he said.
These Bills show that what the Uniting Church has long been calling for is possible. It is possible for identity and security checks to be done quickly and for people’s refugee claims to be assessed while they are living in the community. It is possible to institute a more flexible, transparent and accountable system.
They acknowledge that there is no evidence or reason to believe that people who are seeking our protection would abscond. There is no need to detain or demonise people assuming that they are a threat to Australian society and there is no need to expose them to such damaging environments.
Last year I wrote to the Prime Minister asking for an act of compassion similar to the one being proposed in the second Bill. We have been seeking permanent protection for refugees and for those who cannot be returned home. We have asked for the release of all children and their families and for compassion to be extended to long-term detainees. These proposals offer some hope of a decent life to those whose lives we have made a misery.
This year the Uniting Church celebrates its 20th year as a multicultural church. Our church has been formed out of the multicultural diversity of Australia. Most of us began our life in this land as strangers we are who we are, as a church and as a nation, because those before us welcomed strangers and because we have continued to do the same. We believe that it is time our immigration policies reflected our true identity, Rev. Drayton said.
It is time for a policy that welcomes all strangers and treats them with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings.
Sing Up
May 15, 2005
For the last two weeks we have gathered to sing outside the Maribyrnong Detention Centre. It was an interesting experience. I was delighted that so many people indicated their support by tooting as they drove past. There were a couple of uninformed opinions expressed loudly through a couple of car windows, but I reckon if we wave back at these people, other observers may well assume their words are of the encouraging sort. I for one refuse to be intimidated!
Here are some highlights of the last two sing-ups:
A group of visitors to the detention centre who waved warmly to us as they arrived, and then afterwards drove off down the road in their van, waving to us as they went.
An employee ventured out and took several booklets of the song sheets back inside, to inform the detainees about our singing.
Photographers from The Age and The Melbourne Times took photos. The Melbourne Times have done a write up apparently, though I haven’t seen it.
A poem penned by one of our number, Meg:
Choir scales barbed walls
Guards of refugees keep time
We shall overcome.
Each week there are people making their maiden performances in the group. Wonderful!
Future Protests
We agreed that it is important to rotate protests, in order to be true to our aim of reminding the Australian community of the plight of asylum seekers. At the sing-up last week we agreed to alternate between singing at the detention centre, and in another location. Please watch for venue changes.
http://cecm.victas.uca.org.au/index.cgi?tid=265
Lucy Graham
Contemporary Music Network Co-ordinator
School of Discipleship
May 3, 2005
When: June 10-13
Where: Canberra
What: Lots
Keynote Speaker - Rev Canon Dr Graeme Garrett (talking about vocation)
Workshops - Non Violence, Social Justice & Evangelism, Discipleship in the Streets, Jihad of the Lamb, Ethics, Drama & the Gospel, Subversion 101, Reconceiving Christian Identity , Christian Faith & Multifaiths and more
Public Liturgy - protesting something?
Hanging out with each other
Why: To connect, challenge and encourage.
Bonhoeffer writes that ‘Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ’, yet discipleship is a foreign concept to our contemporary Australian context. Throughout the course of this weekend we will explore the ramifications of a call to follow that demands our all, and leads us to the very cross of Christ. Join with others who are also on the road less travelled that we may share together our hopes and fears, our dreams and doubts and the love of the One who calls us by name. A weekend of worship, teaching and fellowship that will bring conviction to our commitment, resource us in our capacity to be faithful, and empower us to have the courage to continue.
Who: Well you, your friends and other people from all over Australia who are keen to live a life of
faith and action. Last year had people across most mainline denominations and a few para church groups too.
What’s it cost: $125 Student & Unwaged, $145 Waged (Family rates available)
So download the form and register already.
Forward your registrations to: 73 Walpole St, Kew, 3101
Age
Medical personnel needed in Tonga
May 3, 2005
There is an urgent need for general practitioner (family medicine) Christian doctors to work in the Village Mission Trust clinic and pharmacy. Primary medical care is very limited in Tonga. The clinic aims to be a Christian witness through health ministries and has received doctors from NZ, Australia, the UK, Holland and the USA. The clinic is well recognised by senior people in church and government in Tonga. The current doctor has been there for nearly 2.5 years and will be leaving at the end of May. Also, there is a need for a physiotherapist and podiatrist, and an osteopath would also be kept busy. Any health professional generates income for the service (which is totally self supporting by patient fees and occasional donations) so they are paid a small living allowance and given free accommodation.
Contact Dr Glennis Mafi, mfghmafi@ww.co.nz, or Sandy Boyce, sandy@sa.uca.org.au,
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