Author Archive: Catherine Crittenden

You probably know about AdsUp, a group of expats in the US helping Australia’s refugees with resettlement in the US. They are also active in Canada, and trying to secure freedom for people through the sponsorship program there. They are asking for support, so please help if you can.

Update:

Working with Ads-Up USA, I’m privileged to help Manus and Nauru refugees facing desperate situations in America — but the most emotionally wrenching part of the job is speaking with refugees who are still trapped in intolerable situations on Manus and Nauru.

Despite their resilience and fortitude, the combination of isolation, sub-standard medical care and having no clear future ahead of them is crushing and often overwhelming.

That’s why I’m thrilled that an absolutely wonderful couple of donors in Tasmania have agreed to match all September donations to Ads-Up Canada’s resettlement work, up to $20,000.If you haven’t yet done so, please chip in now to double your impact >>

Our 2020-21 plan to increase Ads-Up Canada’s resettlement capacity is ambitious but necessary. Together, we need to ensure we’re doing all we can to end the Manus/Nauru nightmare for good. 

If you have ideas about virtual or in-person fundraising events (COVID-permitting) please get in touch with me at Contact@Ads-Up.org.

We have the ability to create personal and organizational donation pages, if you or a local group would like to set your own fundraising target and work towards it. 

I’ve seen first-hand what we’re capable of when we all pull together, and I’m excited to speak with anyone and everyone who wants to get more involved in helping us meet this important goal!

April Tafe

Join us for a Zoom meeting on 26 August 2020

Can you help Shan? He is currently in the Mantra Prison in Melbourne, but with sufficient funds donated, he could be sponsored to live in freedom in Canada. L4R member Jill Horton explains how here.

Seven Years On.

The report by the Refugee Council of Australia, published in July 2020, sets out clearly the results of seven years of detention.

22 July 2020 6 pm Zoom meeting.

Senator Keneally’s message and June meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 25 June at 6pm, using Zoom. Here is the June newsletter.

Join the Young Labor Left Contingent to Free the Refugees! Saturday 13 June

On Tuesday 2 June 2020, Labor for Refugees held a Q&A, What is Labor doing? with the shadow minister via Zoom. The recording of the event can be found here.

Senator Keneally sent the following letter after the event:

Thank you for attending the Zoom Q&A session. The insights from Labor 4 Refugees are always valued and I value the open dialogue we have on migration, refugee and asylum issues.  

Australians are enthusiastic supporters of migration and as I said the other night we are one of the most successful multicultural nations on earth. We can be proud of the role migration has played in our past – and will play in our future. Our identity as a nation of migrants is unifying and we have welcomed people from every corner of the globe. Refugees and asylum seekers continue to – and will always play – a key part in Australia’s story. 

We covered a wide array of topics which canvassed the implications of COVID on temporary migrants, the additional powers for Australian Border Force officers in detention centres, Medevac, and a range of other topics. The questions were brilliant, and I thank everyone who took the time to draft and submit one. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to them all. 

A prominent issue for the community and one we spoke about the other night is the lack of financial relief or income support for temporary migrants in Australia, including SHEV and TPV holders and the hundreds of thousands of students and other visa holders with work rights – but no work – who have been left without any support.    

As I mentioned during the call, we are collecting case studies of people on temporary visas who are facing difficulties here in Australia. I am concerned that the Government does not understand the situation many temporary migrants are currently facing and believe that the Treasurer and Minister Ruston need to hear about the contribution migrants make to our country. If you have a story to tell about temporary migrants you know or know a temporary migrant who wants to tell their story,  please contribute here. 

Your perspective is appreciated. You can sign up to my regular stakeholder newsletter here, or if you have any additional thoughts or ideas please don’t hesitate to contact me at senator.keneally@aph.gov.au.  

Kind regards

Kristina

Register now to join us on 2 June.