Category: Uncategorized

Alternative to Nauru

I refer to Richard Marles’s piece on Nauru (“Activists’ rumour-mongering demonises and damages our friend Nauru”, 31/10). Marles argues that were the policy of offshore processing to end then asylum-seeker vessels would again set sail from Java and many asylum-seekers would die.
It has been pointed out to Marles that the answer to this argument is for Australia to increase its processing of asylum-seekers in Indonesia and admit those whose refugee claims are accepted. But Marles has continually ignored this response. To think that stopping the boats from departing Java solves the problem is to ignore the facts. Asylum-seekers in Indonesia can’t work and can’t send their children to Indonesian schools. If they choose to risk their lives by getting on a boat, it is because they do not consider that by remaining in Indonesia they are living.

Robin Rothfield, National Co-convenor, Labor for Refugees, Alphington, Vic

Published in The Australian 3 November 2015

Labor for Refugees made a submission to the National Policy Forum which is considering changes to Labor’s National Platform prior to the 2018 National Conference. Subsequently, a draft was issued by the NPF and members were invited to make comments and further submissions.

Labor for Refugees has now made the following further submissions to the National Policy Forum. Our November 2017 amendments appear in red font and the more recent ones are in blue font.

L4R Submission final with L4R amendments in red & blue as at 18 May 18

Explanatory note for Clause 287

Explanatory note for Clause 288

6.30PM TUESDAY 31 MAY 2016

THAI POTHONG NEWTOWN
294 KING STREET NEWTOWN
(close to Newtown Station and City Rd buses; parking is available at Broadway Shopping Centre, then bus to restaurant )

COST: $60 per person, includes a Banquet. Pensioner and unemployed concessions available upon application. Drinks: BYO. The restaurant is also licensed.

SPECIAL GUEST: CHARLES FIRTH

Charles is an Australian comedian, best known as a member of The Chaser productions CNNNN and The Chaser’s War on Everything

During the evening, there will be an AUCTION of some David Pope (Canberra Times) cartoons, and some paintings inspired by the suffering of asylum seekers.

Catherine CrittendenSeptember 21, 2017Uncategorized

We will have a better chance of success in reforming Labor’s refugee policies if supporters of L4R  stand as Delegates for next year’s National Conference.   The changes to ALP rules allow National Conference Delegates to be elected by rank and file members from their Federal Electorate Councils.  We therefore urge you to consider nominating when this opportunity arises.  There will be 107 Delegates attending from NSW. 

If you intend running as a Conference Delegate, please send us your Expression of Interest so that we can support you.

Current ALP National Platform

Labor for Refugees Amendments R1 C to National Platform – Consultation Draft-3 (what we took to Conference)

Summary-of-Significant-Amendments-to-the-Platform-Secured-by-Labor-for-Refugees

Omnibus Amendments Passed on Refugee Platform resulting from Labor for Refugees proposals to the National Policy Forum Working Group

Amendments Passed on International Engagement resulting from the lobbying efforts of Labor for Refugees and our involvement in the National Policy Forum Working Group

Randwick-Coogee Branch 21 August 2017

The Branch supports the Labor Party working towards a humane solution to the refugees and asylum seekers situations on Manus Island and Nauru.

Summer Hill Branch 15 February 2017

A motion was carried unanimously by members of ALP Summer Hill Branch endorsing the Refugee Council of Australia statement urging Labor to lead in the formation of the bipartisan commitment to bring asylum seekers from Manus Island and Nauru to safety. A further motion was carried that Labor publicly clarify that the people (people seeking asylum and refugees) banished by Australia to Manus Island and Nauru are not illegal immigrants.

The RCOA statement headed Bring These People to Australia, is an open letter from civil society to PM Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten Labor for Refugees signed this statement which appeared in The Australian on 6/2/17. The ad was tabled and circulated. It follows: Organisations from around the country representing millions of Australians have joined together to call for urgent action on Manus Island We, as a coalition of organisations and community g roups from around Australia, are writing to express our concern regarding the humanitarian cris is that Australia has created. Successive Australian governments have managed and funded offshore detention camps on Manus Island and Nauru. The people detained there are cle arly Australia’s responsibility. This situation has reached crisis point, and immediate action must be Beyond the reports of physical and sexual abuse, in cluding of children; inadequate medical attention; suicides and attempted suicides; even a murder; the extinguishment of hope has pushed people to Many of these people have been recognised as refuge es. We owe them protection and safety now. Meanwhile, politicians are spending years engaged i n lengthy negotiations as to the fate of these men, women and children. With the US resettlement d eal in serious doubt, the most obvious and humane solution is to clear the camps and bring the se people to Australia until a safe long term, appropriate outcome for them can be guaranteed. We do not have years. Australia cannot allow anothe r person to die or suffer because of our negligence. This race to the bottom, this cruel gam e of human ping pong, must end. This is a crisis. We are calling on both major part ies to form a bipartisan commitment to immediately evacuate the camps and bring these people to safety