A major refugee rights demonstration will be held outside the ALP national conference on December 4, details are below.
Not in Malaysia, Not in Nauru—No offshore processing, end mandatory detention—Refugees are welcome. Rally 12pm Sunday December 4, Sydney Town Hall to march to ALP conference at Darling Harbour
Endorsements include: Chilout, Refugee Action Coalition, Labor for Refugees (NSW), National Tertiary Education Union (NSW), Australian Services Union (NSW & ACT (Services)) NSW Nurses Association.
Save and print a poster to stick up at work or uni, or near where you live. For more info go to Refugee Action Coalition Sydney or call Diane 0413 003 148 or Dianne 0447 905 092.
Factories of Mental Illness
Even with the end of third country offshore processing, the Government’s offshore processing on Australian territory on Christmas Island and its wider mandatory detention regime remains intact. There are still around 4500 people in detention. These “factories of mental illness” are relentlessly taking their toll. There is a growing revolt against mandatory detention too, with cracks appearing in the immigration bureaucracy. ACOSS, the Australian Medical Association, St Vincent de Paul, the ACTU, as well as business leaders like Heather Ridout have spoken out against it.
As Labor’s National Conference in December approaches, opposition inside Labor has also surfaced. Left wing MPs spoke out against Gillard’s push for offshore processing, and Labor for Refugees is mobilising for the conference. But Julia Gillard and Immigration Minister Chris Bowen say they want to move that the conference endorse the government’s stalled efforts at expanding offshore processing in Malaysia and elsewhere.
If the Gillard government can’t find the political courage to change direction, we will need to keep campaigning. The refugee movement fought Howard to a standstill. Join us to rally outside Labor’s national conference in December to demand that Gillard changes course too.
Hello George
I want to participate in what ever action is planned to occur during the ALP National Conference on Sunday 4/12 and am aware that the protest strategy may have changed following recent announements made by Chris Bowen. I have flyers from the Refugee Action Coalition that I was going to letterbox this week but these now are inappropriate. I’d like to be involved in the group’s action and would like to be contacted. Thank you.
Dear Grant
We don’t have an organised group action as such. I suggest that you phone Kathie Herbert who is active in our group and in the ALP.
Her number is 4782 3384. She will know which train the protesters will be catching.
Good luck!
George