According to the latest polls the majority of Australians support housing asylum seekers onshore while their claims are processed and that number is growing by the day. Australia’s High Court has already upheld the rights of asylum seekers; now it’s time for our politicians to do the right thing.

Amnesty International volunteers will be traveling around the state until Monday October 10 collecting petition signatures to tell the government that processing all refugee claims onshore is not only Australia’s duty as a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, but also a fairer, cheaper and more humane approach.

Amnesty’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, will hand deliver the petitions to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen ahead of Parliament’s 11 October vote on changes to the Migration Act that would weaken protections for refugees and shun our international obligations under the Refugee Convention.

The petition urges the government to abandon policies that would send refugees to other countries and commit to processing the refugee claims of people who arrive in Australia. It asks that when creating refugee policy, the government remember that seeking asylum is legal, even if arriving by boat – the number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia is small compared to other places – and the vast majority who arrive by boat are genuine refugees fleeing violence and terror.

The Australian Democrats wholeheartedly support the Amnesty campaign and urge Victorians to sign the petition when called upon by an Amnesty volunteer. The petition will also be available for signing at our October 10, monthly Democrats Soapbox Forum.

On Monday October 3 at 10am Amnesty is running a training session for volunteers at their 134 Cambridge St, Collingwood, Action Centre followed by a petition signing blitz around Melbourne CBD.

Individuals and organisations can also run there own petition signing event by contacting Amnesty’s Community Campaigner, Anouska Teunen on 0434 424 475 or by email at vicvolunteers@amnesty.org.au

Petitions and other resources are available for downloading here.

Australian Democrat, Alan Ide, has submitted a bold alternative transport plan to the new state government.

Mr Ide’s proposal, which is endorsed by the Australian Democrats Victorian division, exchanges the $4.3 billion ‘Regional Rail Link’ for a $4.3 billion Maglev fast rail system from Melbourne to Geelong and Melbourne to Melbourne Airport.

A Maglev system from Southern Cross station to Geelong via Avalon Airport and from Southern Cross station to Melbourne Airport can be built for the original price of the proposed Regional Rail Link. Continue reading →