In this episode of Green Left, Amin Afravi, Sue Bolton and Chris Breen look at the reasons for the government decision to release refugees and the next steps in the campaign.
medevac
Refugee and asylum seeker supporters began an occupation on May 12 of the Mantra Hotel in Preston, Melbourne, where more than 65 asylum seekers are being held under guard, reports Kerry Smith.
Refugee rights activists rallied across Australia on November 9 to defend the Urgent Medical Treatment Bill (Medevac), which was passed in February.
Many asylum seekers had hoped a Labor government, having supported the medical evacuation law (Medivac) and agreed to accept New Zealand's offer to resettle 150 people a year, would mean an end to six years of torture. The election result has killed that hope, writes Zebedee Parkes.
“Tell him to write a will” was the reaction of the Australian government when doctors requested an emergency transfer to an Australian hospital for a seriously ill Afghan asylum seeker.
He has written a will, requesting that if he dies, the Australian government care for his children and provide them with an education.
Doctors have expressed extreme concern for “Abdullah”, a single father of two teenagers trapped on Nauru with an urgent heart condition requiring airlift to Australia. His case has not been classed as an emergency.