Justice & Freedom for Refugees Rally at Lawson
About 80 people from BMRSG, Grandmothers for Refugees, Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) and various Blue Mountains Churches came together at Lawson... Read More
Understanding the Strengthening the Character Test Bill
Trying to understand the Strengthening the Character Test Bill 2021, passed by the House of Representatives this week? Dr Sangeetha Pillai has... Read More
What the Djokovic case tells us about Australia’s dysfunctional visa cancellation regime
from The Visa Cancellations Working Group, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Refugee Advice & Casework Centre The cancellation of the... Read More
Ivor Houston’s walk across Australia nears end
Warrimoo man, Ivor Houston, was welcomed in Katoomba this week and again in Glenbrook on the last leg of his journey on... Read More
Sign to reunite Rohullah with his family hiding in Kabul.
PLEASE HELP URGENTLY AND SHARE. The Guardian ( Swan Hill) has launched this e-petition to help bring landscape gardener and SES volunteer... Read More
Poster Entries in Poster and Video Competition 2021
Despite COVID and lockdown and home schooling we received some fantastic entries in our second Poster and Video Competition. View the videos... Read More
Advocates for Afghanistan face up to Susan Templeman
Wide ranging groups from the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury have combined to bring the plight of Afghan people seeking safety to... Read More
Giving Back Competition; Great Prize
BMRSG volunteers starred on Blue Mountains Radio 89.1 every Tuesdays in August between 10 and 11 (our segment started at 10.30). Noeline... Read More
Morrison’s ‘unconstitutional’ crackdown on charities
Sweeping new laws that could strip charities of their non-profit status for minor offences are intended to stifle protest, the sector warns.... Read More
Prize-Winners in RAR/BMRSG National Video and Poster Competition 2020
In the next sitting of Parliament, the Coalition intends to bring on a vote on the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019. The Bill has passed the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate.
While framed as a simple adjustment to the Migration Act 1958 (the Act), the Bill would in fact significantly expand the character-based powers of visa cancellation and refusal, making them dangerously and unworkably broad. If passed into law, the Bill would increase the number of people in immigration detention and facing removal from the country.
Both Labor and the Greens recommended the Bill be rejected, after a Senate Inquiry was warned of its dangers. The passage of the Bill now depends on the vote of unaligned Senators.
The Bill is bad law and should not be passed. It is deliberately unclear, concentrates power in the hands of the Minister and his delegates, and will harm families and communities.
Contact your Senator.