Vale Malcolm Fraser

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has lost not only a fellow advocate but a true friend.

Someone whose involvement with the centre extended far beyond the purely professional to a warm and very personal friendship.

Ms Fraser’s involvement with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre began in March 2010, at the launch of his biography at Melbourne University.

Mr Fraser spoke about his long-held views about immigration and multi-culturalism as being integral to our nation – and he bemoaned the resurgence of harsh, punitive policies and attitudes towards asylum seekers and refugees, considering it a return to the ugliest side of the days of the White Australia Policy.

The ASRC took the opportunity to connect him to our work and seek his voice to support asylum seekers.

After a brief sizing up, he asked: “What do you want and when do you need it by?”

He had never heard of us at that point in time, but his ready agreement was driven by his strong values that people in distress, people who have fled tyranny and oppression in their own lands should be welcomed by Australia warmly and with generosity and compassion.

Not long after, he visited the ASRC and saw the work of the organisation first-hand.  He often refers to that first visit – that he was most impressed by the scope of support offered by the ASRC and the incredible commitment of so many volunteers.

Mr Fraser was a unique leader in that he lived and breathed his core values and was unwavering in his commitment to the rule of law, anti-racism and upholding human rights.

People at the ASRC experienced first-hand his warmth, his sense of humour and his absolute certainty around the need for a compassionate approach towards asylum seekers and refugees.

For him, it wasn’t just about humane policy, it was about the people themselves.  His concern for the individuals affected by Australia’s policies was genuine and personal.

To people at the ASRC he spoke of the fact that recent successive Governments’ punitive, ever-crueler approach to asylum seekers and refugees wasn’t new.   This idea of treating asylum seekers harshly was there during his time as Prime Minister – but he was determined that he wouldn’t allow that culture to fester and grow.

Today, the benefits and rewards of his humane approach are everywhere.

In December last year, the ASRC held an opening celebration for their new facilities in Footscray.  Mr Fraser was there and people were in awe, swarming around him and trying to get a selfie with the great man who so eloquently and so loudly voiced their concern about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

The opening event happened the day after the Government rammed its cruel and punitive Caseload Legacy Bill through the Parliament.  Mr Fraser’s speech in response to this new legislation was powerful – he spoke for everyone in the room that day, expressing their anger and sadness at the terrible depths to which this Government had sunk.

Also at the opening that day was the Mayor of Maribyrnong, Nam Quach, who spoke about how Mr Fraser’s policies had allowed his refugee parents to be welcomed into Australia – he was only there because of what Mr Fraser had done as Prime Minister.   There was hardly a dry eye in the house.

Whenever the ASRC asked Mr Fraser to do something – to speak at an event, make a phone call of influence or write a column – he always said yes.    He made personal financial contributions and helped us foster connections with other organisations, including legal firms and potential funders.

Whenever a newspaper paid him a fee for writing a column about asylum seeker and refugee issues, he would send the cheque in the mail straight to the ASRC.

He was in touch with the ASRC up until early last week – always fighting, always caring, never giving up.

ASRC is mourning the loss of not only a true statesmen but an unwavering and true friend.

Our commitment to his legacy is to continue to stand up for asylum seekers and refugees.