URGENT: Contact your local MP to end indefinite immigration detention

An email from Amnesty International - Thursday 26th May 2005

Dear Friends,

You are no doubt aware of the growing debate in the media about proposals from within the Federal Liberal Party to change Australia’s mandatory immigration detention regime.

You can help to influence this debate.

You can urge your local Federal Member of Parliament (MP) to support moves to end indefinite immigration detention, release children from detention and allow refugees who have been granted temporary protection to live in the community permanently.

Why now?
Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou MP is proposing to introduce two Private Member's Bills, with the support of several of his colleagues, to address Australia’s inhumane mandatory detention policy. This is a significant development in the refugee debate and provides an opportunity to end the human rights violations under Australia’s mandatory immigration detention system.

In recent weeks serious cases have come to light: the wrongful detention of Cornelia Rau and up to 200 others, the wrongful deportation of Vivian Alvarez Solon and the eventual release of three-year old Naomi Leong after being detained for her entire life. Most recently the Federal Court held that the Commonwealth failed in its duty of care to provide adequate psychiatric health care to mentally ill detainees at Baxter.

What does the Private Member's Bills provide for?

those who have been in detention for more than a year will be released while their claims for protection are resolved;
release of children and their parents from detention, unless they pose a risk to the public or are likely to abscond;
permanent protection for Temporary Protection Visa holders;
asylum seekers who arrive without a visa will only be detained initially for up to 90 days, which can only be extended by application to the Federal Court; and,
permanent protection for those whose claim for asylum has failed but who cannot be removed from Australia (after 3 years).
What you can do?
In your personal capacity - as a citizen living in their electorate and not as a member of Amnesty International – politely phone, fax or write to your MP today to support reform of Australia’s mandatory detention regime.

Phone your MP's office and ask that your MP support the measures contained in the Private Members Bills to end the human rights abuses against refugees and asylum seekers.

Write a 'follow up letter' outlining your concerns - and cc it to the Prime Minister the Hon. John Howard MP.

Get five of your friends, family or workmates to do the same.

Respond to any local radio talkback on the issue and write to your local paper.
Points to make:

Release all children from detention - there are currently 68 children in detention. The latest detainee, baby Michael Andrew Tran, was born on Christmas Island on Monday 23 May 2005.
End Mandatory Detention - thousands of asylum seekers have been detained for anywhere up to seven years under Australia's policy. Just this month an Iranian man was recognised as a refugee and released after having spent 5 years in detention.
End Indefinite Detention - under Australian law, the Australian Government can detain failed asylum seekers until they die. Peter Qasim has been detained for almost seven years, despite requesting to be returned to any other country that will accept him.
Grant Permanent Protection for Refugees - Australia is the only country to grant temporary status to people recognised as refugees. Over 9000 refugees, fearful of being returned to countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, are having to re-prove their status once their 3 year visa expires.
The Australian Government must bring its refugee policies in line with international human rights standards.

Who are your elected representatives in the House of Representatives and in the Senate?
Find out which is your electorate, your elected representative in the House of Representatives and your Senators.

Find your electorate here: http://www.aec.gov.au/esearch/main.htm

Find your rep in the House of Representatives here: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-elctr.asp

Find your senators here: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/homepages/si-state.htm