Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, re-introduced the Refugee Protection Bill 2019 to Parliament this morning. It was seconded by independent MP Dr Helen Haines. “Confining people for an indefinite period of time, whether it be on Christmas Island, in Nauru or on Manus, was never a lawful, ethical or affordable policy. It’s grossly inhumane,Read more
BMRSG’s submission as to why we do not support this bill. “We are concerned that this bill will slow the evacuation of seriously ill people from Manus and Nauru to Australia for specialist treatment thus exacerbating their disorders. Doctors and medical personnel must always be able make the decision for rapid medical evacuation in a society which values human life.
The previous system involved many levels of bureaucracy and constant court battles to enable medical transfers, an expensive and time wasting business.”
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
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
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
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
