Letter to Acting Minister Tudge: These people have suffered enough.

 Dear Acting Minister Tudge,

Sunday 19^th July marked the seventh anniversary of the Rudd government’s announcement that people arriving in Australian waters seeking asylum would be detained in offshore detention centres and would never be allowed to settle in Australia. Seven years on, twelve men have died in offshore detention, many hundreds have suffered both physical and mental torment, families have been separated and lives have been ruined. To date, the cost of this cruel policy is approaching a staggering $8 billion. There are still some 400 refugees and asylum seekers trapped on Nauru and in PNG. Many hundreds more are held in detention in Australia. Some 120 people are stuck in hotels in Brisbane and Melbourne, having been transferred to Australia for urgent medical treatment, which many of them are yet to receive.

It is clear that your government has completely abrogated its responsibilities to fulfil its obligations under the United Nations Refugee Convention. These asylum seekers have committed no crime, and yet, unlike convicted criminals, they have no release date. 

Why does your government continue to inflict such terrible punishment on these people? You cannot possibly argue that the policy serves as a deterrent to other would-be asylum seekers, given that our maritime borders are carefully patrolled by the Australian navy, effectively preventing people arriving by boat.

Why does the government continue to spend enormous amounts of taxpayers’ money on a policy that is irrelevant, cruel, immoral and unlawful? Our reputation as a good global actor has been steadily eroded sine the “Stop the Boats” sloganeering of the Abbott era. It is surely time for the government to adopt a more mature and humane approach to the issue.

This shameful chapter in our history could be brought to an end within months, if the government had a moral compass and the political will. It is surely time to accept the offer of the New Zealand government to resettle up to 150 refugees annually, to resettle those that remain offshore in Australia and to release into the community the many hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees currently languishing in APODs and detention centres in Australia.

These people have suffered enough. It’s time for you to act!

Yours sincerely,

M. Griffin

Bello Nambucca RAR Newsletter 1st October 2019

Roadside demonstration: Thursday 3^rd October, Coffs Harbour

Our next roadside demonstration will take place on Thursday 3^rd October from 2.30 to 4.00 pm by the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. Please come and join us if you can, as these demonstrations are a great way to remind the public that the cruel policy of offshore detention continues, and with no end in sight for the hundreds of refugees held against their will for more than six years on Nauru and in PNG. We have lots of banners and placards to share, and we would love to welcome some new volunteers to our activities.

Valla Beach market: Saturday 5^th October

A reminder that our next market stall will be at the Valla Beach Market on Saturday 5^th October from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm. As usual, we will be engaging with market-goers, collecting signatures on our new open letter to the Prime Minister and selling merchandise to raise funds for the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC). If you can help out for and hour or two at the market, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. 

Thank you letter from the ASC

Last week, following our most recent donation of $500 to the Asylum Seekers Centre, we received this thank you letter from Frances Rush, the CEO. “Thank you very much to the Bellingen and Nambucca District RAR for raising an amazing $500. Your ongoing efforts and support for the ASC is really appreciated.

ASC currently provides practical and personal support for over 4,000 people from 95 countries, many of whom are children.

With your support, we are able to address their immediate needs by offering a range of services under one roof, including health care, legal advice, emergency housing, financial relief, food, social support, and employment. With the right support at crucial times, women, men and children can improve their health and wellbeing, regain independence and find community connections.

Once again, thank you”.

Frances Rush’s letter underlines the importance of our fundraising efforts, which so far this year have enabled us to donate $9,200 to the ASC.

National RAR campaign to revive the NZ offer

We wrote two weeks ago about the national campaign to persuade our government to accept New Zealand’s generous offer to accept 150 refugees annually from Nauru and PNG. Many of you will have contacted some or all of the Senators on the list provided. If you received any responses, please let us know by emailing us at: bellingen.rar@gmail.com

National RAR committee are now requesting that, if you have not received any response, then would you please consider a follow-up email to the people listed below, reminding them of your earlier email, and stressing the importance of them responding to your original questions.

MP: Pat Conaghan: Pat.Conaghan.MP@aph.gov.au

Coalition Senators in NSW:

Andrew Bragg: senator.bragg@aph.gov.au.

Perin Davey: senator.davey@aph.gov.au.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells: senator.fierravanti-wells@aph.gov.au.

Hollie Hughes: senator.hughes@aph.gov.au.

Marise Payne: senator.payne@aph.gov.au.

Arthur Sinodinos: senator.sinodinos@aph.gov.au.

In addition, National RAR tells us that the Labor leader, Anthony Albanese will be travelling to New Zealand shortly. It would be really helpful if we could send him lots of emails, or phone his office, to urge him to raise the matter with Jacinda Adern and to ask her to reissue her government’s offer to the Australian and PNG governments to resettle refugees in New Zealand.

Anthony Albanese’s contact details are: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au. Tel: 02 6277 4022.

In case you missed the previous email the request to the local member was to be simply:

“Dear……

I have two questions for you, and I would appreciate your response as soon as possible.

1. What would it take to get the refugees currently in PNG to New Zealand?

2. What is the government’s plan for refugees and asylum seekers in PNG who do not go to the United States?

Yours sincerely……”

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

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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

Letters to Sen Keneally, PM Morrison, Sen McKim

                                                                                        9^th September 2019

Dear Senator Keneally,

Please find attached a letter sent today to the Prime Minister on behalf of Rural Australians for Refugees, relating to the offer of the New Zealand government to resettle 150 refugees from PNG and Nauru in New Zealand. As you are aware, the situation in PNG and Nauru for the remaining asylum seekers and refugees is utterly hopeless. They have languished far from our shores, without any hope for the future, for more than six years, which is a deeply shameful state of affairs.

We are pleased to note that the Labor opposition supports the New Zealand offer, and we are encouraged by the fact that you personally have taken the fight to the Minister for Home Affairs on a number of asylum seeker issues, in stark contrast to the near-monastic silence of your predecessor. What we would ask is that you, and the Labor party, redouble your efforts to force the Coalition government to seriously consider the New Zealand government’s offer to resettle these refugees. We need to bring this shameful chapter in our history to a speedy end. The suffering has gone on for far too long.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mike Griffin

Bellingen and Nambucca District Rural Australians for Refugees

                                                                                               

                                                                            9^th September 2019

Dear Prime Minister,

Please find enclosed an open letter, addressed to yourself, and signed by 1520 Australian citizens. Their signatures were collected in recent times at local markets and other venues around Australia by members of Rural Australians for Refugees. The letter reads:

“Almost every day we read about the ongoing suffering of the asylum seekers and refugees who continue to languish indefinitely on Manus and Nauru. We are dismayed and deeply saddened by reports of self-harm and attempted suicides by people whose spirits have been crushed by years of detention, and who can see no hope for the future. This cannot continue.

We therefore ask that you urgently enter into discussions with the New Zealand government, with a view to accepting their generous offer to resettle 150 refugees annually from Manus and Nauru. It is important to us that you demonstrate by your actions that you are prepared to treat these people with compassion and humanity.”

We lost count a long time ago of the number of visitors to our local market stalls who tell us that they feel deeply ashamed to be Australian, as they observe the gratuitous and ongoing suffering inflicted on the detainees on Nauru and in PNG. It is surely time to put this shameful chapter in our history behind us. The New Zealand government’s generous and compassionate gesture offers a positive way forward. We therefore urge you to accept this offer to resettle the refugees and to expedite the closure of all offshore detention facilities without delay.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mike Griffin

                                                                                                                                                                                Bellingen and Nambucca District RAR                           

                                                            

The Reply

Dear Mr Griffin 

Thank you for your correspondence of 9 September 2019 to the
Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, enclosing a signed open letter concerning the Australian Government’s regional processing and resettlement arrangements. Your correspondence has been referred to the Minister for Home Affairs, the
Hon Peter Dutton MP, as the matter raised falls within his portfolio responsibilities.

The Minister appreciates the time you have taken to bring these matters to his attention and has asked that I reply on his behalf.
As a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol (the Refugee Convention), Australia takes its international obligations seriously. Australia is committed to providing protection to refugees consistent with the obligations set out in the Refugee Convention and other relevant international treaties to which Australia is a party. 

The Government works closely with the Governments of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru to ensure transferees continue to be provided with a range of health, welfare and support services, including extensive physical and mental healthcare provisions, free accommodation and utilities, allowances and employment services. Where specialist medical treatment is not available in PNG or Nauru, mechanisms are in place for temporary transfers to a third country for treatment, including Australia. 

People under regional processing arrangements are treated with respect and dignity and in accordance with international human rights standards. Their protection claims are assessed by the Governments of PNG and Nauru and are undertaken in accordance with each countries respective laws and processes. 

Under regional processing arrangements, refugees have permanent resettlement options and are being resettled. People found to be refugees by the Government of PNG can settle in PNG, express an interest in US resettlement, seek assisted voluntary return or move to a country they have the right to reside in. 

People found to be refugees by the Government of Nauru can stay in Nauru for 20 years, express an interest in US resettlement, apply for an assisted voluntary return package or move to a country they have the right to reside in.

Australia appreciates the offer from the New Zealand Government to resettle refugees, however we are focused on completing the larger arrangement with the United States (US). Australia’s border protection policies have removed the incentive for people to join dangerous and illegal people smuggling ventures to Australia. The Government remains mindful of not undoing efforts to combat people smuggling. 

A total of 4,183 illegal maritime arrivals were transferred to offshore processing under the previous government. Today, there are no refugees in detention under offshore processing and as at 30 September 2019, 632 refugees have been resettled under the Government’s resettlement arrangement with the US. 

Regional processing is a key pillar of Operation Sovereign Borders and supports the Government’s strong border protection policies. These policies have successfully stemmed the flow of illegal maritime ventures to Australia, disrupted people smuggling activities in the region and prevented loss of life at sea. 

The success of Australia’s border protection policies has also enabled the Government to make a generous contribution to addressing the global humanitarian crisis and increase our Humanitarian Programme annual quota to 18,750 places, this represents the largest ongoing program in over 30 years. 

Thank you for bringing your concerns to the Government’s attention. Yours sincerely 

Director
Regional Processing and Resettlement 4 October 2019

4 National Circuit Barton ACT 2600
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • www.homeaffairs.gov.au

                                 

                                                                           9^th September 2019

Dear Senator McKim,

Please find attached a letter sent today to the Prime Minister on behalf of Rural Australians for Refugees, relating to the offer of the New Zealand government to resettle 150 refugees from PNG and Nauru in New Zealand. As you are aware, the situation in PNG and Nauru for the remaining asylum seekers and refugees is utterly hopeless. They have languished far from our shores, without any hope for the future, for more than six years, which is a deeply shameful state of affairs.

We are very aware of the Greens’ principled and well-articulated policy position on the government’s asylum policy, and your personal commitment to ending offshore detention is greatly appreciated. What we would ask is that you seek to engage constructively with the Labor opposition to force the Coalition government to seriously consider the New Zealand government’s offer to resettle these refugees. We need to bring this shameful chapter in our history to a speedy end. The suffering has gone on for far too long.

We are grateful for your ongoing support.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mike Griffin

Bellingen and Nambucca District Rural Australians for Refugees

                                                                                                           

                       

                                                                                                           

                       

Newsletter for 23rd July 2019 RAR, Bellingen and Nambucca

In this Newsletter:

Bellingen market report

 Roadside demonstration: Thursday 25^th July, 2.30 to 4.00 pm, Toormina

Final curtain call: fundraiser on Sunday 28^th July at 2.00 pm

Manus island. What is going on?

The New Zealand off remains on the table

 

Bellingen market report

 Saturday’s market in Bellingen was a special affair, in that, in addition to our usual activities, we were also marking the sixth anniversary of the Rudd Labor government’s decision to condemn any further asylum seekers arriving by boat to indefinite offshore detention on Nauru or Manus island. None of the asylum seekers arriving by boat after 19^th July 2013 would be allowed to resettle in Australia, in contravention of our international obligations. To mark the occasion on Saturday, we had special posters and placards on display, we invited visitors to our stall to write a postcard either to the Prime Minister or to our local Member of parliament, and we asked people to write a message of hope to the refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus. Yesterday, we posted sixty postcards to the Prime Minister or to our local MP, and we sent more than forty messages of hope to the Australian Refugee Advocacy Network, who will ensure that they are sent to detainees on Nauru and Manus. In addition, we collected more than 200 signatures on our open letter to the PM, which calls on the government to accept the offer of the New Zealand government to resettle 150 refugees annually from our offshore detention centres.

So, a very busy day, and a huge thank you to the many supporters who worked so hard to make our event such a success. You will find photos of our market activities on our blog and our Facebook page.

Our next stall will be at the Valla Beach market on Saturday 3^rd August from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm. If you can help out for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. 

Roadside demonstration: Thursday 25^th July, 2.30 to 4.00 pm, Toormina

Our next roadside demonstration is scheduled for this Thursday afternoon in Toormina. You will find us in our usual spot on Hogbin Drive, about 200 metres down from the fire station, in the direction of the airport. We have lots of banners and placards to share, so why not consider coming to join us? It would be really encouraging to welcome some new people to our demos, which are a great way of reminding people about the reality of what continues to be done in our name.

Final curtain call: fundraiser on Sunday 28^th July at 2.00 pm  

A final reminder that our important fundraising concert will take place on Sunday in the Nambucca Community and Arts Centre, located on Ridge Street. Everything is in place for you to enjoy an afternoon of joyful music. 

Tickets are available at Helloworld Travel on Bowra Street, Nambucca Heads, or on the door on the day of the concert. If you wish to secure your tickets in advance, for collection on arrival, then please phone Mike on 6569 5419, or email him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. 

Proceeds from the sales of tickets, the raffle and works of art will be donated to the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown, who do vitally important work supporting asylum seekers in Sydney. 

Please make a big effort to support this major fundraising event if you can.

Refreshments will be served in the small hall during the interval. If you care to bring along a plate to share, that would be greatly appreciated.

Manus island. What is going on?

There are currently some 450 men detained in Papua New Guinea at the behest of the 

Australian government. It has been revealed in recent days, however, that the majority of them have been transferred to the PNG capital, Port Moresby. 

The Greens senator, Nick McKim, was briefly on Manus island last week, before being abruptly deported, and he reported that approximately 300 detainees have been moved off Manus and are being held in Port Moresby. There are scant details of why there has been this mass transfer, or the conditions in which the men are held, though it is known that a small number of the men are awaiting resettlement in the US, and others are in Port Moresby for medical treatment.

In the meantime, the new prime minister of PNG, James Marape, has been voicing his concerns on a regular basis about the continued presence of asylum seekers and refugees on PNG. Last week, he made it clear that he wants the arrangement with the Australian government to come to an end, and is seeking a timeline to put an end to this shameful chapter in our history. He stated: “These are human beings we are dealing with. We can’t leave them all hanging in space with no consideration into their future.” He is in Australia this week on a formal visit, and he is expected to press the Australian government to set a deadline for the removal of all the detainees from PNG.

PM Morrison and PM Ardern

The New Zealand offer remains on the table

The NZ prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, was in Australia last week, and reiterated her government’s offer to resettle 150 refugees annually from Manus and Nauru. The offer has been on the table since February 2013. If our government had accepted the proposal, there would by now be no refugees on Manus or Nauru. Our government, however, shows no sign of shifting from its hardline stance, and clearly will only do so if and when there is strong public pressure, and a vocal parliamentary opposition, to the present cruelty and inhumanity. But let’s not forget: it did happen with the children on Nauru, all of whom were removed before the federal election. It can happen again!

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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.

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

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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