Author Talk – Safdar Ahmed
An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Lawson Convent Hall on Sunday 4 December to hear Zac Quinn interview Safdar Ahmed author of the... Read More
Covid-19 and immigration detention
During the pandemic, immigration detention centres have become more crowded. Despite many guards living in Covid-19 hotspots, there are no extra precautions... Read More
Life in the community after 10 years in detention – BMRSG Helps
Mandeep* was in detention for nearly 10 years. During his time at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, his mental health and the injuries he suffered fleeing civil war at home slowly worsened. BMRSG volunteers visited Mandeep during this time, campaigned for his release and are now supporting him in the community as he transitions from detention to living in and negotiating his way around Sydney. Find out how BMRSG supports those who come seeking safety.
Susan Templeman’s speech Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 Second Reading Speech
Member of Macquarie, Susan Templeman's speech opposing the repeal of the Medivac legislation.
MIGRATION AMENDMENT (REPAIRING MEDICAL TRANSFERS) BILL 2019 SECOND READING SPEECH
Since the Medevac laws passed in February, against the government's wishes, 110 refugees and asylum seekers have been transferred to Australia for medical treatment.
In a submission to a Senate inquiry examining the government's bid to unwind the laws, Dr Kerryn Phelps points out that about 80 per cent of cases were agreed to by the minister at the first instance and none have been refused on security grounds.
"The process is working as intended - an orderly system providing medical treatment for sick refugees in a timely manner," Dr Phelps said.
Behrouz Boochani’s literary prize acceptance speech – full transcript
This is a transcript of the speech Behrouz Boochani delivered via video link on 31 January 2019
When I arrived at Christmas Island six years ago, an immigration official called me into the office and told me that they were going to exile me to Manus Island, a place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I told them that I am a writer. That same person just laughed at me, and ordered the guards to exile me to Manus.
Until when: The forgotten men of Manus Island
This joint report by the Refugee Council of Australia in partnership with Amnesty International, tells the story of the men who have been sent by Australia to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and what has happened to them after they were forcibly removed from the ‘regional processing centre’ on Manus Island one year ago.
Executive summary
"The system the Australian government has designed for refugees and asylum seekers, has a kind of evil and devastating effect. It can ruin the very inner strength of human spirit. To the outsider, Fariborz [Karami] took his own life [on Nauru in June 2018], but the truth is the system took his life. There is no alternative explanation, and we must hold
the Australian government accountable for this action.
‘Do not abandon us’ Behrouz Boochani tells audience in Wentworth Falls
Behrouz Boochani, the Kurdish Iranian journalist and award winning autho, discussed his recently published memoir No Friend But the Mountain: Writing From Manus Prison at the Wentworth Falls School of Performing Arts last Saturday. Mr. Boochani fled from Iran to seek refuge in Australia but was instead sent to offshore detention on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Mr. Boochani is a vocal advocate for Kurdish people and all refugees and asylum seekers. Mr. Boochani Skyped in from East Lorengu, the refugee accommodation on Manus Island where he currently resides, and received a standing ovation from audience members, before talking about his memoir and his time in detention.
Wentworth Falls Launch of “No Friend But The Mountains”
by Roger Grealy Kathie Herbert and Joy Connor did us proud in organising and running the afternoon around the local launch of... Read More
Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2017
Summary and recommendation
The purpose of the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2017 (the Bill) is to amend the Migration Act to:
1. allow the Minister to determine that an item is a ‘prohibited thing’ in relation to immigration detention facilities,
2 allow existing screening, search and seizure powers to be used in relation to prohibited things,
3 provide a power to search all areas of immigration detention facilities without a warrant, and
4 enable the use of detector dogs to search facilities and to screen detainees and other persons entering the facilities.
This post goes into the details of the Bill, the responses of the main parties and the Government's respond to these comments.
Blue Mountains Refugee Support group holds vigil outside Macquarie MP’s office
Members of the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group (BMRSG) took their campaign to the Windsor office of Macquarie MP, Susan Templeman, on Thursday, July 19.
The gathering was part of a national day of vigils held around Australia to mark the deaths of 12 male asylum seekers in permanent offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
Twelve empty chairs and 12 pairs of shoes were placed outside Ms Templeman’s office to represent the death of each of the young men. Many of the men, aged between 23 and 34 years old, died from suicide, including overdose and self-immolation.
The vigils, named ‘Five Years Too Many’, also marked the fifth consecutive year of refugees and asylum seekers being incarcerated in these centres, established on July 19, 2013.