Cruel detention of refugees in PNG
04 October 2024
KEVIN SWEENEY
| Refugees Off PNG Working Group
FOOTSCRAY, VIC - The Australian Government needs to immediately reinstate basic support for refugees and asylum seekers that it sent to Papua New Guinea.
If it is not able to do this, it should bring them to Australia as a matter of urgency so they receive basic support and adequate medical care while awaiting resettlement.
Refugee advocates need to undertake a letter writing campaign to keep pressure on the Australian government to end the cruel and unjust holding of refugees in PNG.
The most powerful action you can take is to write to key politicians about these issues.
I am asking if you could write a letter or email to minister Tony Burke, assistant minister Matt Thistlethwaite, minister Penny Wong, prime minister Anthony Albanese and your local MP.
An individually written letter or email has more impact than a pro forma letter or email.
You can write about any aspect of this issue that you like.
To assist, I have provided some dot points below. If you choose to use these dot points please rewrite them in your own words.
It would be wonderful if you could take up this call to action. Thanks so much for your help with this.
Dot points (you only need to choose a few of these to make a compelling letter)
- The 43 refugees and asylum seekers who are still in PNG were sent there by the Australian Government 11 years ago
- They unequivocally remain the responsibility of the Australian Government
- The PNG Government has failed to provide these people with basic supports since November 2023
- These refugees and asylum seekers, and their dependent partners and children, are left destitute and are only able to eat because of donations from concerned Australian citizens
- It is not good enough for the Australian Government to say that it is “in negotiation” with the PNG Government about reinstating supports – it is now 11 months since supports were withdrawn
- They have no money for food, electricity, medical care or safe transport
- Their accommodation is insecure and six of them have recently been threatened with eviction
- They are only surviving because of donations from Australia
- It is a complete abrogation of Australia’s responsibility to place these refugees in PNG and then leave them in such dire circumstances
- The Australian Government needs to immediately reinstate essential support for these refugees and their dependents – and that includes food, electricity and gas, safe transportation, secure accommodation and medical care
- If the Australian Government is not able to arrange this immediately with the PNG Government or an NGO, then the Australian Government should urgently arrange to transfer the remaining refugees and asylum seekers to Australia so that they are safe, receive essential supports, and receive adequate medical care while awaiting resettlement
- The only exceptions to this should be those who do not wish to come to Australia and those whose resettlement in a third country is imminent
- There are approximately 1,000 refugees who have been brought to Australia from PNG and Nauru over the last 11 years. Bringing the last 43 will not significantly change the numbers in Australia, but it will bring an end to the terrible situation in PNG where they remain trapped and are being actively harmed by Australia’s policies
Solutions
- Immediately reinstate essential support for those who remain trapped in PNG and their dependents
- Transfer them to Australia while awaiting resettlement and bring this cruel and unjust saga of offshore processing in PNG to an end
Contacts
The Hon Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister
Parliament Office
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
https://www.pm.gov.au/contact
To AG Satori,
jumping into canoes and invading Australia has been tried before. It did not go well.
However, that's not to say it won't be tried again. Your point is very well made and very appropriate.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 15 October 2024 at 10:35 AM
Let refugees be. Let them be.
PNG is still a good place.
Can yous all put in the same fervour instead to argue to bring PNGns to Australia. Better still to ease the visa restrictions for PNG travellers.
It looks to be about time some of us started jumping in canoes and boats to cross the strait to Boigu Island.
This would create our own boat people exodus to Australia so we can be shipped to the processing centre in Nauru.
Posted by: AG Satori | 14 October 2024 at 01:12 PM