Refugees demand action from newly elected Parliamentarians on thousands failed by abolished Fast Track system

As the new Parliament enters its second week, four refugees failed by the Fast Track system have travelled to Canberra, urging political leaders to take advantage of Labor’s increased majority to finally let them call Australia home.

The four refugees from Iran and Sri Lanka have all lived in Australia for over 13 years, some arriving with very young children who have spent their entire lives in Australia. They and their families work in critical sectors like aged care, disability support, and healthcare, yet remain in limbo after being unfairly assessed under the now-abolished Fast Track system.

“We were forced to come here to be safe – otherwise we would never have left our home.  We want to develop our skills and education and contribute to the Australian community. We have been doing our best for 13 years, but we just want to be able to call Australia home.” said Narges, a mother of three who works in disability care.

The delegation have a full schedule of meetings across parties including Labor, Greens, LNP and Independent MPs to tell them about the impact of the uncertainty on their lives and futures, and urge them to set up a fair and consistent process to deal with the thousands of people who were left in limbo by the now-repealed Fast Track system. 

Background – the abolished Fast Track system

The Abbott Government introduced the Fast Track process to assess refugee protection claims in 2014, which Labor opposed while in opposition –  saying that it was deeply flawed and unfair. The Labor Government abolished the Fast Track system last year but has not established a fair, transparent process to reassess the 8,000 people whose protection claims were unfairly refused under Fast Track. Instead, they remain on short term temporary visas in the community with no pathway to permanency, many without work rights. 

Voices from the delegation

Rathy, an Aged Care worker, business owner and mother of an Australian citizen child: 

“For more than a decade, we have been trapped in this so called Fast Track process but nothing about it has been fast. We are left in limbo, waiting, suffering, forgotten. We are not living, we are just surviving. We’ve lost years, we’ve lost loved ones, we’ve lost pieces of ourselves. We are treated as temporary, as if we don’t belong but our pain is permanent, and our fight for justice is real. All we want is a chance to live with dignity, to rebuild, to be free.”

Thanu, who arrived alone at age 19 and now works as a Union organiser: 

“Please just end this limbo, and provide permanent protection for us. I have given everything to this country since I arrived, and I just need to know I am safe here.”

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

“There has been a lot of talk by the Albanese Government since the election of values – of fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. And yet, thousands of refugees failed by the flawed fast track process are still separated from family, still denied the right to work or study and still unable to access basic supports such as Medicare after 13 years. This could all be resolved by the stroke of a pen.”

“The Albanese Government abolished the fast track system because they knew it was unfair. But they have continued to stubbornly stand by its flawed decisions for no logical, humane or economic reason. It’s time to end the cruelty and give people the pathway to permanency they deserve so they can finally rebuild their lives in safety.”

Spokespeople available for interview

Rathy Barthlote: Tamil refugee, aged care worker, mother of Australian citizen child

Narges: Iranian refugee, NDIS support worker, mother of three

Thanu: Tamil refugee, union organiser, former small business owner

Jana Favero: Deputy CEO, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Long bios available on request.

Media enquiries
For media interviews, please contact Ogy Simic at media@asrc.org.au or 0412 034 821.