above: a "road sign" created to advertise
the event
At 11.45pm on Monday, 15 November 2004, three bus loads (150 people) left from outside Trades Hall, Lygon Street, to make the 8 hour journey to Canberra. Many more travelled by private car.
Canberra authorities were somewhat unready, but were not much of an obstacle to our protest, which was vigorous and loud.
Given the effort we put into this event, media attention was also quite acceptable.
Thus we kept the issue alive and showed the government that their re-election did not mean they could continue with their racist agenda without a fight.
above: a poster
used to influence voting
Statement by concerned individuals
The re-election of the Coalition Government poses an enormous challenge for refugee activists. Yet it is one we must rise to meet.
Mandatory detention and the agony of temporary visas have cost too many lives, too many tears, too many years of childhood and youth. Refugees were the issue that neither major party wanted to talk about during the election. Now we must make sure the issue is not swept under the carpet by the new Parliament.
Some of our friends still in detention wrote in response to the election result: “Democracy doesn’t automatically guarantee justice … we are also very desperate but what to do? … We continue with our peaceful protest until we get an answer. We expect your further support.”
We are
calling on you and your friends to join us on the lawns of Parliament
House in Canberra on the first sitting day of the new Parliament. We must
show the politicians that we are not going away, we are not giving up
– that we will keep coming back until there is JUSTICE FOR REFUGEES.
We
call for:
- An end to mandatory detention and the release of all asylum seekers in detention
- Permanent protection and citizenship
- An an end to Temporary Protection Visas and Bridging Visa Es
- Bring detainees on Nauru and those towed back to Indonesia to Australia immediately
- An end to the “Pacific Solution”
- Compensation
and support for those who have suffered years of unjust detention.
Signed by: Rural Australians for Refugees, Refugee Action Collective (Victoria), ChilOut, National Anti-Deportation Alliance, www.nauruwire.org, Field of Hearts Project, Project SafeCom, Western Australian Refugee Alliance, Refugee Rights Action Network (WA), Refugee Action Coalition (NSW), Refugee Action Committee (ACT), Refugee Action Collective (QLD), Baptist Union of Victoria Public Issues Network, Maleny RAR group, Armidale RAR group, RMIT Refugee and Asylum Seeker Project, Fremantle Refugee Support Project, The Bessie Smyth Foundation, Sydney, Public Servants for Refugees, Buddies Refugee Support Group, QLD, Women’s Abortion Action Campaign, NSW, Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, Community Campaign Against Homophobia (NSW), Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, Housing Workers 4 Refugees Brisbane, Stop the War Coalition, Sydney, Darwin Refugee Action Network Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens; Julian Burnside QC; Jane Keogh, Canberra; Grace Gorman, Melbourne; Abdul Baig, Melbourne (formerly a delegate inside Maribyrnong Detention Centre); Sam Watson, Murri activist, film-maker and writer; Gillian Blair, South West Action for Refugees (Warrnambool); Lynda Smith, Spokesperson for Refugees and Immigration, Greens NSW; Lynne Murphy; Mark Williams, Researchers for Asylum Seekers; Elaine and Geoff Smith, NSW; Rosemary Breen, convenor, Inverell RAR; Judith Dynan, Province Leader, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary; Kate Orman, Australian Democrats, Bennelong Branch; Pat Feehelly (Goulburn RAR); Phil Griffiths, former convenor, RAC ACT; Bronwyn Ellis, Whyalla, SA; Kaye Bernard, WA; Stuart Kingsford, Greens Federal candidate for Flinders, 2004; Priscilla Phelps, VIC; Sita Parsons; Robert Marshall, VIC; Frederika Steen, Brisbane; Laurie Ormond; Jen Brown, Lismore NSW; Jen Harrison; Martin Rorke; Margaret Harrison; Rachel Reilly, Melbourne; Stephen Houston & Lara Palombo; Marianne Cannon & James McCarthy; Gaille Abud; Helen Tweeddale; Alenka & Ron Co, SA; Jack H Smit, WA; Helen Lucy Moss; Pam and Rod Lever, Glasshouse Mtns, Qld; Helen Lewers, Napoleons, VIC; Anna Hirst; Dr Annette Salt; Harriet McHugh-Dillon; Louise & Brett Fulwood; Susie Gates; Suellen Irving; Margaret Kirkby, Sydney; Mary J de Merindol, Sydney; Grace Brown, NSW; Cris Townley; Margaret Moore; Jane McDonald; Jane Gapinski; Frank Gapinski; Kate Champion; Martin Moore; Maggie Piper; Emily Moore; Robert Piper; Dianne Potter; Hamish Mark Tweeddale; Lola and Ron Sharp, NSW; Susan Metcalfe; Primrose Letcher, Melbourne; Lorna Bowers; Don Stewart, Warrnambool, VIC
22 October 2004