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.
Strengthening the Character Test Bill – What Can You Do?
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.
Blue Mountains Welcome Way – Videos for #WorldRefugeeDay
Guy Power, advocate and community visitor made this video of the members of the Glenbrook with their signs at Glenbrook.
Blue Mountains Welcome Way on World Refugee Day 2020
Members of Blue Mountains Support Group celebrate World Refugee Day 2020 by creating a virtual Welcome Way. We shared photos and ourselves and our families at home and in our community.
We posted our images online and on our fences. We all did it in our own way.
Watch this post as ore images will be posted during World Refugee Day 2020
A Refugee Week Message from the Traditional Owners
The Blue Mountains City Council Aboriginal Advisory Council (AAC) have said that they “support the idea to recognise International Refugee Day through events particularly highlighting some of the extremely difficult challenges faced by refugees.”
This is a powerful message of fellow feeling coming from a people who experience continued dispossession and racism
Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group would like to thank the ACC for their gracious response.
Palm Sunday, Online Action for Refugees
Blue Mountains Refugee Supporters joined the online Action for Refugees on Palm Sunday. Supporters from Blackheath to Sydney showed their support by posting a photo of themselves hold a sign. Some, who found taking a selfie while holding a sign too difficult, photographed their pets. Kathie Herbert, Deputy Chair of BMRSG, who started BMRSG support in Katoomba, said, "Social distancing protocols were strictly adhered to! "
BMRSG volunteers meet Kristina Keneally and Andrew Giles in Springwood
Ms Keneally took the opportunity, with Andrew Giles, the shadow minister for multicultural affairs, to meet members of the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, while in the area visiting Mt Tomah and Bilpin with the Labor shadow ministry in the wake of the bushfires.
"It was a perfect opportunity for Andrew Giles and I to come meet with this group, particularly to discuss the range of issues they are campaigning on and for me personally, it was a great morale boost to know that there are so many people in the community who want to ensure a just and fair outcome for asylum seekers and refugees," Ms Keneally said.
Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group Inc AGM 2018-2019
By Joy Connor Chair BMRSG 2018 -2019 saw an increase in aggressive negative rhetoric towards our asylum seeker friends. It saw the end of... Read More