Refugees took their protest for permanent visas to the streets, walking 10 kilometres from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office in Marrickville to immigration minister Tony Burke’s office in Punchbowl. Zebedee Parkes reports.
Tony Burke
Labor and the Coalition have mostly agreed on harsh measures for refugees who flee here to escape war and persecution. Mano Yagolingam had been struggling in limbo for 12 years, Chloe DS writes, before setting himself alight.
Refugees and their supporters marched to Labor MP Tony Burke’s office at Punchbowl after rallying first at Dorothy Reserve in Bankstown. Marx del Rosario reports.
Refugees and their supporters want Tony Burke, the new minister, to urgently provide people who have waited years under the misnamed “Fast Track” process with permanent visas. Kerry Smith reports.
Celebrations of multiculturalism happened in 26 cities and rural locations across Australia on October 22 as part of Welcome to Australia events organised under the theme of “Walking together to welcome refugees”.
In Sydney, helium balloons, musical performances, bright red shirts and smiles gave it a carnival like atmosphere. For some it would have been their first refugee rights event.
Parliament resumed on August 30 and the government's agenda was simple: delay marriage equality; justify the double dissolution; and argue the case for a renewed assault on living standards — I mean: “budget repair”.
The “budget repair” project was contained in a centrepiece “omnibus” bill that combines 24 measures from this year's budget that have not yet passed the Senate. It is an attack on students, welfare recipients, ordinary workers and the environment.