Border Force Act 2015 - write to politicians to express your concern
Last week the ‘Border Force Act 2015 ‘ was implemented. It carries penalties of up to two years in jail for detention staff on Nauru or Manus island should they speak out about the conditions or practices they observe during the course of their work.
Should they witness child abuse, lack of decent sanitation, inappropriate treatment of detainees or lack of services such as medical or educational provision they must stay silent and disclose no information to journalists or to any other member of the general public.
How shameful is this ? What have the Abbott Government got to hide by enforcing these draconian measures ?
As a RAR member I am appalled and extremely disturbed by the passing of this act and urge RAR members to write to politicians who have supported it through parliament. We are approaching a dictatorial state and we need to register our protests loud and clear. I thought freedom of speech was every Australian citizens’ right but it seems not to be so.
Marlene
Dassan list of politicians is attached
Let’s put pressure on Luke Hartsuyker
Our local member of Parliament continues to uncritically support the indefinite detention of asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru. He is a senior member of a government which seeks to shroud its asylum policy activities in secrecy and which now threatens doctors, nurses and other support workers with imprisonment if they speak out about the abuses which they observe in these gulags. It’s time to let Mr Hartsuyker know that we are enraged by his government’s actions and that we will continue to make our feelings known.
To that end, we are planning a new action, namely to hold a peaceful picket outside the office of our Federal Member each Thursday morning, provided that there is support amongst our membership to get the idea off the ground.
One of our supporters, Robin Hesketh, is very keen to organise the picket and is looking for support. If anyone can make a commitment for a couple of hours on a Thursday morning to support this action, then please email Robin at : robinhesketh@hotmail.com. You might want to commit to just one session a month, or whatever you feel that you can manage. If a number of people are prepared to do a little, then it can add up to something significant. On behalf of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus, please support Robin if you can.
Robin is also looking for help with designing and writing placards for the picket, so if anyone could help with that, please let him know.
Many articles on Border Protection Bill, Nauru and Manus Island on Kaldor Centre web page
The Italian Prime Minister speaks out for asylum seekers
Information from RACS - the following link will take you to the full document.
This is a very informative document as the following headings show
RACS Telephone Advice Service - vital with the new Border Protection Laws
What doesn't make the news
creations of temporary protection visas
creation of fast tracking process
release of children from detention
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