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  • Susan Templeman’s speech Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 Second Reading Speech

    Susan Templeman’s speech Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 Second Reading Speech

    Member of Macquarie, Susan Templeman’s speech opposing the repeal of the Medivac legislation.
    MIGRATION AMENDMENT (REPAIRING MEDICAL TRANSFERS) BILL 2019 SECOND READING SPEECH
    Since the Medevac laws passed in February, against the government’s wishes, 110 refugees and asylum seekers have been transferred to Australia for medical treatment.
    In a submission to a Senate inquiry examining the government’s bid to unwind the laws, Dr Kerryn Phelps points out that about 80 per cent of cases were agreed to by the minister at the first instance and none have been refused on security grounds.
    “The process is working as intended – an orderly system providing medical treatment for sick refugees in a timely manner,” Dr Phelps said. Read more

  • Six Years Too Long – Hawkesbury RAR Rally

    Six Years Too Long – Hawkesbury RAR Rally

    About 30 people gathered in Richmond Park on Saturday 20 July 2019 to mark the six years since those seeking asylum were sent to the detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
    Each of the men who died as a result of being detained on Manus or Nauru was remembered by name and a brief report of the circumstances of their death read and a minute’s silence observed for each man. Each man’s portrait was displayed and a flower laid on each chair as their stories were read. The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert and the Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman spoke.Read more

  • Until when: The forgotten men of Manus Island

    Until when: The forgotten men of Manus Island

    This joint report by the Refugee Council of Australia in partnership with Amnesty International, tells the story of the men who have been sent by Australia to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and what has happened to them after they were forcibly removed from the ‘regional processing centre’ on Manus Island one year ago.
    Executive summary
    “The system the Australian government has designed for refugees and asylum seekers, has a kind of evil and devastating effect. It can ruin the very inner strength of human spirit. To the outsider, Fariborz [Karami] took his own life [on Nauru in June 2018], but the truth is the system took his life. There is no alternative explanation, and we must hold
    the Australian government accountable for this action.Read more

  • ‘Do not abandon us’ Behrouz Boochani tells audience in Wentworth Falls

    ‘Do not abandon us’ Behrouz Boochani tells audience in Wentworth Falls

    Behrouz Boochani, the Kurdish Iranian journalist and award winning autho, discussed his recently published memoir No Friend But the Mountain: Writing From Manus Prison at the Wentworth Falls School of Performing Arts last Saturday. Mr. Boochani fled from Iran to seek refuge in Australia but was instead sent to offshore detention on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Mr. Boochani is a vocal advocate for Kurdish people and all refugees and asylum seekers. Mr. Boochani Skyped in from East Lorengu, the refugee accommodation on Manus Island where he currently resides, and received a standing ovation from audience members, before talking about his memoir and his time in detention.Read more

  • Wentworth Falls Launch of “No Friend But The Mountains”

    Wentworth Falls Launch of “No Friend But The Mountains”

    by Roger Grealy Kathie Herbert and Joy Connor did us proud in organising and running the afternoon around the local launch of Behrouz Boochani’s book, No Friend But The Mountains. As an interested observer  I write to say what a professional group we have and what talented , hard working women Kathie and Joy are.Read more

  • Lobbying Federal Politicians in Canberra

    Lobbying Federal Politicians in Canberra

    Joy Connor and Marie Sellstrom, President of Rural Australians for Refugees, spent 2 days in Canberra meeting with politicians. They met with Russell Broadbent, sent Marise Payne a gift of Blue Mountains honey and a copy of Behrouz Boochani’s book and met with Julie Bishop. The meetings were facilitated by local member Susan Templeman.
    Julie Bishop said that refugee advocates needed to lobby for more involvement by Australia in regional intercountry dialogue such as the ‘Bali Process’, if there is to be any kind of solution to forced migration. Read more

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