Newsletter for 17 July 2018 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

_{Roadside demonstration report
The courts intervene again
Anthony Albanese changes his mind
Protest rally: Saturday 21st July}

_{Roadside demonstration report}

_{Another successful roadside demonstration in Coffs Harbour last week, with overwhelming support from passing motorists. Our next demonstration will be on Thursday 26 July on Hogbin Drive, Toormina, from 2.30 until 4.00 pm. You will find us about 150 from the fire station, in the direction of the airport. Please come and join us if you can.}

_{The courts intervene again}

_{During the past fortnight, four children held on Nauru have been transferred to Australia for urgent medical treatment following the intervention of the courts or the threat of legal action. Every case to date has been won by the legal teams representing very sick minors, and the numbers can only grow. There have now been at least nine such actions, which further reinforces the reality that our government’s harsh and punitive treatment of detainees is untenable. Slowly, one by one, through the intervention of the courts, children are being moved to safety to receive the treatment that their doctors have insisted is necessary.}

_{It is outrageous that our government fights the doctors all the way to court, putting young lives in danger. The current policy requires children to become so physically ill, or so acutely psychologically unwell, that their lives are at risk.}

_{It is surely time for the government to end the cruelty, and for the Labor opposition to demand that the offshore detention centres close.}

_{Anthony Albanese changes his mind}

_{At the Labor party conference in 2015, Anthony Albanese, a senior member of the Labor Shadow Ministry, voted to oppose boat turnbacks, stating: “If people were in a boat including families and children, I myself couldn’t turn that around.” In recent interviews and speeches, however, Albanese asserts that he now does support boat turnbacks, that it is not necessary to place a time limit for people held in offshore detention, and that a Labor government would not allow asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru to ever settle in Australia.}

_{There must be an election coming soon!}

_{If you would like to contact Anthony Albanese to let him know what you think about his change of heart, you can phone his office on 02 9564 3588; email him at: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au, or write to him at : 334A, Marrickville Road, Marrickville, NSW2204. You can find a sample letter on our blog by clicking on the link below.}

_{Protest rally: Saturday 21 July}

_{Preparations are now well advanced for our protest rally which will take place on Saturday 21  July from 10.30 am until 12.30 pm on Harbour Drive, opposite Coffs Central, in Coffs Harbour. Given the bipartisan parliamentary support for the cruel policy of indefinite offshore detention, it is more important than ever that we make our voices heard. To do that, we need a big turnout on Saturday. Please therefore make a commitment to joining us, and please encourage your colleagues, friends and family members to come along. You might like to make your own sign to add to our current stock of banners and placards.}

_{Would you like to have your say at the rally, or to encourage your children/ grandchildren to have their say? You might like simply to come out to the front, where we’ll have a microphone, and tell the crowd: “I’m here today because……”}

_{It would be very powerful if lots of individuals could make a contribution. It matters not that there will inevitably be a fair amount of repetition.}

_{We’ll be handing out leaflets to the public and asking people to sign our open letter to the Labor Party conference delegates.}

_{With your support, we’ll make a big impact on Saturday!}

_{Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au} 

_{It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.}

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_{Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam}

_{Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com}

_{The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au} 

_{The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook}