June Refugee News

Dear Supporters of A Just Australia,

AJA has been very busy in the past month. We've released another joint report with Oxfam Australia. The report recommends introducing a formal system of Complementary Protection in Australia by reforming Ministerial Intervention. See below for more details.

We have also kept up with our direct lobbying efforts. We've continued with the task on making sure all new MPs are briefed on current refugee and asylum seeker issues. We've almost made it through the whole list of new MPs. We also met with Malcolm Turnbull to discuss issues, and had a very productive dinner meeting with the Immigration Minister, Chris Evans. We have also met with key Departmental people to discuss AJA's policy proposals.? Click here for more details on the long term policy goals.

Along with other advocacy groups, we've been concentrating on the 7 high priority issues, agreed to by the refugee sector at the beginning of this year. There's been some significant wins on these issues. See this report on the progress after 6 months of sustained lobbying.

AJA will continue with our work and we look forward to more successes.

Kate Gauthier, for the A Just Australia team

AJA releases report on Complementary Protection
On Saturday 22 June, A Just Australia and Oxfam Australia released a jointly developed report: "Playing God with Sanctuary: a study of Australia's approach to complementary protection obligations beyond the Refugee Convention".? The report follows Immigration Minister Chris Evans' comments in February that he was uncomfortable 'playing God', expressing concern about 'the lack of transparency and accountability for those decisions'.

The report found that a dangerous gap exists in Australia's refugee system that means people threatened with torture and gross human rights violations are being sent back to their country of origin after years in detention centres because they do not fit the technical definition of a 'refugee'.

Under the current system, a person who faces danger if they return to their place of origin might slip through the gaps and only get asylum by applying for refugee status, knowing they will be rejected, apply for a second time once they are rejected and then seek ministerial intervention - which may not be granted.

The report examines Australia's current approach to its international legal obligations under conventions other than the Refugee Convention.? It examines whether these obligations are being properly met, as well as analyzing the costs and efficiencies of the current approach to determine whether a new system to deliver 'complementary protection' should be introduced.

You can read the report online (with an executive summary)

Media
Australian charities want a review of refugee policy
Radio Australia,? 20 Jun 2008
A report from Oxfam and A Just Australia on the experiences of asylum seekers criticises the current process of ministerial intervention which gives the Immigration Minister the final decision.

Torture threat ignored as government sends people home, advocates claim?The Age - 21 Jun 2008
A new report by Oxfam and A Just Australia, Playing God with Sanctuary: A study of Australia's approach to complementary protection obligations beyond the Refugee Convention, says there is a dangerous gap in Australia's refugee policy.

IPS, Melbourne, Jun 20? - While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's government has been promoting recent improvements in its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers during national Refugee Week serious concerns regarding the health, welfare and safety of those seeking protection in Australia remain.

Inquiry into Immigration Detention Announced
Recently the Joint Standing Committee on Migration held a roundtable in Sydney to discuss Villawood Detention centre to aid in a report on their inspection of that facility.

Participants in that roundtable, including AJA national coordinator Kate Gauthier, made sure to broaden the discussion to issues around the use and duration of detention itself, not just the quality of the infrastructure and services at Villawood.

It seems the Committee listened!? On May 29 they announced an "Inquiry into Immigration Detention in Australia" rather than just releasing a report on the inspection. Interested organisations and individuals are invited to participate in the inquiry by making a submission by Friday 18th July.? Please see the website for terms of reference and other details about how to put in a submission. The more information they receive, the better. Now is the time to put concrete alternatives to detention on the table.

Please make a submission - it can be as simple as writing a letter putting forward your views on how detention should be reformed, or stating you disagree with mandatory, indefinite detention.

As well as matters relating to detention, the Committee also addressed conditions faced by asylum seekers on release from Villawood and in the community, which gave advocates an opportunity to raise a number of our concerns.

The matter of work rights for all holders of Bridging Visa E's was raised as of particular importance, and advocates were able to stress the benefits both to the asylum seekers and the community of allowing more participation in the work force. The associated problem of access to medical care and other community facilities was also discussed, as well as the severe financial hardship caused to sponsors when a bond has been required for the Bridging Visa.

All of those who took part felt it was a very useful session.

Abolishing detention debts
Immigration Minister Chris Evans told the Senate yesterday the Government would overhaul the laws (where people are given bills for their time in detention) which Immigration Department figures reveal to be unproductive.

Senator Evans said the amount of money recouped was similar to the amount of money spent on the effort of debt recovery.
"I do think the detention debt system is in need of overhaul and I have asked for further advice on it and we'll be looking to reform the system when I have got better advice," he said. "I agree there's a problem. It doesn't make a lot of sense, the current system."

See the full article in the Australian
?

Immigration minister radio interview
On 16 May Immigration Minister Chris Evans was interviewed on ABC National Radio's 'National Interest' program.? In discussing the current system of assessing protection visas and ministerial discretion, he acknowledged the 'corrupted' state of the system and the need for reform.? However the timeframe indicated for reform was long - three years or more.

To listen to an audio clip of the interview, click on this link and move forward to the 11th minute of the clip.

Notices

New report: "An absence of human rights: Children in Detention"
By Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM
Director, Equity and Diversity, University of Western Sydney
Former Australian Human Rights Commissioner (2000-2005)
Paper presented at the Human Rights Law and Policy Conference, Melbourne, 16-17 June 2008
The imprisonment of children under mandatory detention policy in Australia's detention camps was one of the worst, if not the worst, human rights violations in the Australia's post World War II history. This paper examines what has happened and why our human rights protection system in place has failed the children.? It compares the Australian human rights environment to that of other countries, and examines what needs to be done to avoid ongoing breaches.
To see a copy of the paper, click here

New book - 'Forced Migration, Human Rights and Security'
Edited by Dr Jane McAdam, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Law Programs, Faculty of Law, UNSW
This collection responds to some of the contemporary challenges faced by the international protection regime, with a particular focus on the human rights of those displaced.? Contributing authors include Guy Goodwin-Gill, Jane McAdam, Mary Crock, Ben Saul, Savitri Taylor, Susan Kneebone and Erika Feller.
For more information

Photo Exhibition
'The United Colours of Australia's Schools Photographic Exhibition
Entries: April 15 - July 4, 5 pm
A photographic exhibition depicting Australia's cultural colours and shades has been touring Victoria for the past 12 months. The Diversity in Action committee is keen to encourage more students from country areas participate this year in this touring exhibition.
The exhibition specifically aims to:
? encourage Victorian secondary school students to depict and celebrate the rich diversity of our communities;
? participate and empower Australian youth at this time where refugees and asylum seekers are major issues in the media;
? familiarize the wider Australian community with these trends in modern Australian society and indeed, the world.
Creative Arts Centre (CCAC)
Contact: Maggie Morgan, Project Co-ordinator
Contact -9443 8015 A.H. and 0412 572 222 sms
c/o UfP - Diversity in Action, PO Box 2023, Lygon Street North, East Brunswick 3057

For Better or Worse? Asylum Seekers and Refugees under the Rudd Government
Presented by SA Advocacy & Mediation, with Suzanne Carlton, Migration Agent and Manager of Migration Services at the Australian Refugee Association
There will be an opportunity for audience questions and discussion. Wine and cheese tasting, and an opportunity to network will follow
When: Thursday 3 July 2008, 6pm - 8pm
Where: SA Advocacy & Mediation, 255 Angas Street, Adelaide
Cost: $20 per person
RSVP's essential - book early to reserve your place on (08) 8232 5773
http://www.saadvocacy.com.au/
?
The 4Rs - Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility - International Conference
The 4Rs conference is designed around four themes and their interaction- human rights, Indigenous advancement, inter-communal relations, and active citizenship.
There will be a number of international and Australian keynote speakers.? Confirmed speakers include:
Professor Kevin Dunn, UWS racism project
Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Victoria University Institute for Community Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives
Professor Lucy Taksa, UNSW Centre for Industrial Relations
There will be panels presented by wide range of experts, advocacy and campaign organisations. Internationally renowned human rights lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson QC (TBC) will join a panel discussion on human rights via video link with London to put the Australian situation in an international context
When: Tues 30 September - Fri 3 October 2008
Where: University of Technology Sydney, City Campus
See www.the4rsconference.org