11,000 call on Federal MPs to end suffering in offshore detention and evacuate people now

MEDIA RELEASE:

An 11,000 strong petition calling for the evacuation of 140 people suffering in offshore detention will be delivered to Parliament House today, as a stark reminder to Federal Parliamentarians that lives are at risk in Papua New Guinea and Nauru unless urgent action is taken.

The petition will be presented to Independent MP Kylea Tink on Parliament lawns during a peaceful action from 12–1pm organised by ASRC, Refugee Action Collective and Refugees off PNG. The action will highlight 11 years of medical neglect and human rights abuses inflicted on people held offshore, and the health crisis still facing the 46 people stranded in PNG and the 94 now held in detention in Nauru.

This morning, Independent MP Kylea Tink will also introduce a refreshed Private Members Bill, calling for a 90-day time limit on detention for people seeking asylum. The Bill includes a prohibition on the detention of children, finally aligning Australia’s refugee processing regime with international human rights law.

The activities in Canberra follow the release of ASRC’s damning health report in July which confirmed that of the people ASRC supports, 100 % of the refugees in PNG, and 65 % of people held in Nauru suffer physical health conditions. Mental health issues and risk of suicide also remains a high risk for people facing indefinite detention with 88 % of the refugees in PNG and 22 % of people held in Nauru suffering severe mental health conditions.

Over the past 11 years, successive Governments have continued to rubber-stamp atrocities in offshore detention, ignoring at least 14 deaths and mountains of evidence about the long-term impacts of trauma, uncertainty, medical neglect, family separation, and the violation of human rights on people’s physical and mental health.

Refugee groups are clear that unless the Albanese Government takes urgent action to evacuate people to Australia where they can receive adequate medical care while their resettlement is prioritised, loss of life and further harm is imminent.

Quotes attributable to:

Thanush Selvarasa, human rights activist and refugee previously held on Manus Island (PNG)
“I know how hard it is for people in Papua New Guinea, I know how hard it is mentally to be separated from your family for years. I am one of them. I was in Manus Island detention for 6 years until I was medically evacuated to Australia. Then I was locked up in the Mantra hotel for another 1.5 years and denied access to sunlight and healthcare.

“The punishment has continued for those of us who were evacuated from offshore detention under the Medevac law. We are still here in Australia struggling and denied a pathway to permanency. Many of us are being denied basic rights to work and access Medicare. No one can imagine how this treatment has affected our lives.”

Benham Satah, social worker and activist formerly detained on Manus Island
“Every one of the remaining refugees in Papua New Guinea is a human being who has family and they are family to me too. Imagine if someone in your own family went through this, forced into detention for years only because they sought safety.

“They have not committed a crime, they are refugees who fled their countries to safety and after 11 years they are still in PNG. They are Australia’s responsibility and they must be evacuated to safety.”

Jana Favero, ASRC’s Head of Systemic Change
“The leadership and compassion shown by the community, those gathered on the lawns of Parliament today and refugees is in stark contrast to our political leaders in Parliament House.

“Successive governments have kept refugees in a place that has made them sick and, more recently, sending people to a place that we know will make them sick. This deliberate cruelty is about politics not people, and the Albanese Government must act urgently to evacuate people in PNG and Nauru to safety.”

Zaki Haidari, Amnesty International Australia, Refugee Rights Campaigner
“Today, 11,000 Australians have called on the Australian Government that enough is enough. Refugees in PNG and Nauru have suffered for too long. It’s time to end the inhumane treatment in offshore facilities under Australia’s watch. Bring them here, provide safety, and reunite them with their families.”

MP Kylea Tink, Independent Federal Member for North Sydney:
“Australia’s immigration regime is uniquely cruel. While we expect our government to protect our borders, we should never accept this requires placing people seeking our protection into an environment where their basic human rights are completely obliterated.

“The billions spent on maintaining offshore detention is not only wasteful, but fundamentally at odds with our national values. It’s time for the government to put an end to offshore detention.”

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