LOCAL refugee advocates have lent their voices to the latest outrage over Federal Government plans to block any hope of detained asylum seekers achieving settlement in Australia.
Maria Lewis, left, and John Worrall and the remainder of the protest group, with banners and signs expressing their message, gathered on the steps of Kerang’s court building to offer solidarity for refugees on a day when advocates across the nation simultaneously expressed their contempt for the government’s proposed legislative changes.
Gannawarra Refugee Support Group member, Judy Worrall described the “demonisation” of people who had used boats to escape persecution as “vindictive.”
“Because people have tried to come here by boat, they are treated differently, harshly,” she said.
“The logic fails me, it’s just vindictive.
“It seems they have less rights than people who have come here another way.”
The protesters collectively expressed their concerns about the ongoing mental torment for asylum seekers in offshore detention centres.
The group said that a number of Afghan refugees were eligible to stay in this area under safe haven visa provisions, but even they would have to wait five years for family members to join them.
“It’s just sad,” Mrs Worrall said.
She said that the group had supported a Greens move to block the legislation and supported action by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
“We are supporting anyone we can to bring an end to all this,” she said.
The group has been heartened by past support by the Federal Member for Mallee, Andrew Broad for local refugees and hope that he will have a voice in challenging the government’s stance.
Mr Broad is overseas and unavailable for comment yesterday.
