October 2017 Bulletin
CATHOLIC ALLIANCE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM
OCTOBER 2017 BULLETIN
#FairGoForFamilies Campaign Special
We believe that together we CAN make a difference, starting with small acts of kindness and hospitality and becoming a collective voice demanding more compassionate asylum seeker policies.
Make a tax deductible donation to CAPSA today!
Fair Go for Families campaign launched!
This week we have partnered with Jesuit Social Services and the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) to launch a campaign to support people with their refugees status determined in Australia, to be reunited with their families. This campaign came out of national consultations conducted by RCOA, in which family reunion emerged as a key issue for affected people living in Australia.
Currently getting visas for family reunion can be a difficult, expensive and very long process: for many it is not even possible. Policy changes are needed for the refugees and their families: changes that will have social and economic benefits for Australia generally.
You can read more about the campaign and sign the #FairGoForFamilies pledge here:
A majority of Australians support family reunion for refugees
In a recent ReachTEL poll commissioned by Jesuit Social Services, it was revealed that 75 per cent of overall respondents answered ‘yes’ or ‘yes – but only after appropriate background checks’ when asked whether refugee families separated across the world should be reunited.
This is a huge show of support for refugee families to be reunited in Australia, and we call on our political leaders to make changes to the current situation to make it easier for families to be together.
Check out a report by SBS News on this new data and the campaign.
We all love our families: campaign video
Check out our #FairGoForFamilies campaign video here.
#BRING THEM HERE: Nationwide rallies
With the announcement that the Manus Island camp is to close by 31 October, conditions are deteriorating and tensions running high. Only just this week a Tamil man died in Papua New Guinea.
We need to send a message to our political leaders that we want them to put justice and fairness over cruelty.Join us for a day of action across the country:
HOBART, October 6 , 5pm Corner of Murray and Macquarie Streets.
ADELAIDE, October 6, 4.30pm, Adelaide Train Station. Facebook event here.
WOLLONGONG, October 6, 12pm, Office of Concetta Fierravanti-Wells MP. Facebook event here
WANGARATTA, October 6, 3.30pm, Office of Cathy McGowan MP.
MELBOURNE, October 8, 2pm at the State Library, corner Swanston and La Trobe Streets. Facebook event here
BRISBANE, October 8, 1pm, King George Square. Facebook event here
CANBERRA, October 8, 1.00pm Garema Place. Facebook event here
GEELONG, October 8, 11.30am at the lawns at the Waterfront.
NEWCASTLE, October 8, 4pm, Webb Park. Facebook event here
BENDIGO, October 13, 5.30pm, Rosalind Park.
SYDNEY OCTOBER 15, 2pm Hyde Park South. Facebook event here
Can you pledge to attend your local #BringThemHere action?Australia offers to pay Rohinga refugees to return to Myanmar – Oliver Homes and Ben Doherty – The Guardian Australia
Call them what they are: Australia’s concentration camps – Anthony Levin – Right Now
‘Unacceptable’: Liberal MP Russell Broadbent slams down government over refugees – Michael Koziol – Sydney Morning Herald
Meet Medhi, Sajad & Albert – Asher Hirsch – Right Now