Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Wollongong, WILL WILLIAMS, Brisbane">
Tampa Day across Australia
Brisbane
BILL MASON reports that around 150 people rallied and marched in inner suburban West End on August 24. Chaired by Mike Byrne on behalf of the Refugee Action Collective, the rally was addressed by Murri activist Sam Watson and elected Victorian state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Craig Johnston, both Socialist Alliance members. The issue of refugees is trade union business, Johnston told the crowd. ALP councillor Terry Hampson addressed the crowd on behalf of Labor for Refugees.Cairns
SUSAN AUSTIN reports that around 40 people attended a lunchtime rally called at four days' notice to hear speakers from Amnesty International, the Queensland Public Sector Union, the ALP and the Refugee Action Collective, as well as a Romanian refugee. Wearing black armbands, the protestors marched to the immigration department and stayed there chanting Lock up Ruddock, Free the refugees!Canberra
KERRIE BARRON reports that a giant armband stretched across the Garema Place stage on August 26. Stitched its length in red writing was the warning Dont Tampa with Human Rights.The 400-strong rally was organised by the Refugee Action Committee (RAC). A mock Pacific island with suitcase, empty water bottle and children's life jacket highlighted the heartlessness of the Coalition government. A massive card gathered 100 signatures and messages of thanks to the captain of the MV Tampa. Other artwork included enormous pink hearts printed with Have a Heart Ruddock.
Representatives of the ACT multicultural council and Radio 2XX spoke and greetings were heard from Bishop Pat Power, ACT Trades and Labour Council secretary Jeremy Pyner and Barry Howarth from the National Tertiary Education Industry Union. Protesters were entertained by the Union Voices and the Shiny Bums choirs and blues performer Stephen Russell.
Darwin
RUTH RATCLIFF reports that Tampa Day was marked with an candle-light vigil on August 25 which brought 100 people to the Mindil Beach Markets. Representatives from the NT Multicultural Council, the Darwin Refugee Health Network, the Democrats, the Socialist Alliance, the Reclaim the Night Collective and the NTU Refugee Sanctuary Campaign addressed the crowd. An impressive candle-lit march along the beach and through the markets drew a few hecklers, who were, however, drowned out by chanting in support of refugees.Lismore
NICK FREDMAN
reports that a 10-day hunger strike and an outdoor refugee embassy from
August 16, organised by the Lismore Refugee Action Collective, got almost
daily local print and TV coverage, gathered over 1000 petition signatures,
and sold numerous armbands.
On August 23 a premiere of a children's pantomine on refugees enjoyed a packed house of more 100 people, mostly big kids. For the August 25 National Council of Churches' Refugee Sunday, Lismore Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) organised a networking meeting, attracting 40, followed by a public meeting, attracting 80.
At the Anglican Church that evening, despite miserable weather about 100 people attended a rally and heard from RAC activists, Greens, the Socialist Alliance and the local Anglican pastor before marching to local National MP Ian Causley's office.
To chants of Open the borders, Close the camps, Causley's long-suffering staff (Oh it's you again they said as we trooped in) accepted copies of some 1000 signatures to rebut Causley's statements in parliament that no-one in his electorate cares about refugees.
Newcastle
KATHY NEWNAM reports that 100 people attended a Tampa Day vigil. Many had found out from a student general meeting called to discuss the campaign to get the university to declare itself a refugee safe haven. The youth contingent included a performance art troupe from the Central Coast.Melbourne
A small vigil outside the immigration department attracted a lot of media in the morning. Melbourne University High School, Vermont Secondary College and Princess Hill students ordered and distributed armbands. Lawyers from Slater and Gordon also took part.Perth
ALEX SALMON reports that on August 27, 35 people attended a public meeting organised by the Refugee Rights Action Network at the Hellenic club. Rosemary Miller from the Uniting Church's social justice commission and Russell Pickering from RRAN addressed the meeting.Miller argued for a grassroots movement, saying she had failed to elicit any humanitarian response in her discussions with Labor Party figures. The next meeting of RRAN will be held at the Hellenic Club at 6.30pm on September 10. Phone (08) 9218 9608 for details.
Tasmania
DARREN JIGGENS reports that an table distributed information and armbands in the Hobart mall. At one stage about 40 primary school students stopped at near-by traffic lights and, after a little bit of encouragement, one lone voice stepped forward to get an armband. Two seconds later the stall was mobbed by everyone else all wanting armbands.On Tasmania University, a well patronised information table and distributed about 100 armbands. Activists in Launceston attempted to hold a stall in the main city mall but were moved by to a quieter spot, where they still managed to distribute armbands.
Sydney
PAUL BENEDEK reports that activists organised by Free the Refugees Campaign converged on Sydney's busiest train stations distributing black armbands and getting petitions signed. From Central to Sydney's west, north and south west, there was an overwhelmingly favourable response from passers-by. So much so, that at Summer Hill station the arm bands had run out after just half an hour prompting an activist to race home and grab some black material to replenish the supply. A passer-by in Newtown proudly declared he had organised his 250 co-workers to wear armbands for the day. Interest and support from the local high school was also high.One activist set up a huge refugee display at his workplace, SBS TV. When security tried to dismantle it, the controversy sparked support and he managed to distribute more than 100 armbands. Activists on many universities around the country distributed armbands with, in many cases, teachers, students and staff taking part.
An evening vigil organised by the Refugee Action Coalition and Labor for Refugees at Sydney Town Hall that evening attracted 350 people who heard from a variety of speakers including John Maitland from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Wollongong
WILL WILLIAMS reports that a successful media conference on August 24 organised by the Refugee Action Collective ensured that the Tampa Day campaign received huge media coverage. A big campus RAC stall went off, with lots of armbands distributed and new faces getting involved.From Green Left Weekly, September 4, 2002.
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