BY SIMON TAYLER
SYDNEY — Since the federal election, the campaign against the government's policy on refugees has grown dramatically. Dozens of new refugees' rights groups have formed. Labor for Refugees groups have formed in a number of states. Green Left Weekly spoke to Amanda Tattersall, one of Labor for Refugees' conveners, about the group.
According to Tattersall, Labor for Refugees began when a group of ALP members came together in July. Calling themselves the "ALP Support Group for Asylum Seekers", they "worked in the [2001 federal] election campaign, and previous to the election campaign, to try to gain support for opposition to mandatory detention, and to temporary protection visas". But it was difficult to do, given the ALP federal caucus's decision "to be a 'small target' in relation to issues such as refugees".
Tattersall was candid about the ALP's inability to come up with a humanitarian policy. "[The ALP's] failure to come up with alternatives, and its joining in with the Coalition's 'demonisation' of refugees, meant that the ALP supported the government's position."
Labor for Refugees was formed, in part, to change ALP policy on asylum seekers. Tattersall said that there has been huge support within the ALP from members for the group's demands. "Our first meeting had about 120 people at it", she said. "We've got an enormous email list of interested activists who are participating in the campaign." Labor for Refugees now has branches across Sydney and in most states in Australia, "I guess representing the level of opposition to the ALP's demonising of asylum seekers during the election last year".
According to Tattersall, Labor for Refugees also campaigns in the general community. "Some of the inner city branches in Newtown are organising street stalls, promoting not only Labor for Refugees but specific demonstrations ... similar community stalls are being held in Liverpool and Campbelltown."
Asked how the group will relate to other refugees' rights groups, Tattersall made it clear that it will seek to coordinate activities. " This is a really broad campaign, and Labor for Refugees has been working with a lot of the participating groups. There are individuals from Labor for Refugees who have been participating in the Refugee Action Coalition, for instance, and we've been participating in all the [refugees' rights] rallies and events since our formation."
Labor for Refugees has published its eight central demands. According to Tattersall, the key demand is to end mandatory detention of all "unauthorised" asylum seekers. "Mandatory detention has become a symbol of hatred and persecution in the community, a symbol of racism, and Labor for Refugees is committed to it being ended, not compromised or redefined", she said.
When asked what, if anything, Labor for Refugees might be prepared to compromise on in negotiating with Labor Party leaders, Tattersall was adamant that "that's the sort of policy [ending mandatory detention] that Labor for Refugees wants to see the ALP adopt, and frankly we won't stop until that policy exists."
"I see Labor for Refugees having the potential for a longer term campaigning focus", Tattersall added. "Firstly to change these specific things in relation to refugees, but also to campaign around the issues of racism more generally." She said that Labor for Refugees, and other refugees' rights supporters, needed to "seriously respond to and deal with the rise of racism that we've seen since the Howard government decided to use refugees as pawns to divide society".
"Labor Against Uranium, which existed in the 1980s, was deflated over the ALP's compromise over the three uranium mines, and I think we're particularly conscious of their ability to stop half way and therefore deflate our movement.
"The ALP won't be won over by rational debate. The leadership of the ALP must be convinced by the growth of a political movement that is broad and well represented across the community, that articulates the demands that Labor for Refugees is also articulating.
"The Whitlam government in 1972 was a progressive government, because of the progressive social movements that existed at the time. Similarly, changing the policy on refugees, changing the level of racism, will be a product of the social movements that are able to represent the community opposition to the current policy and community demands for a more progressive stance."
From Green Left Weekly, March 20, 2002.
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