Human Rights

* Thanks for making the ASRC’s baby fundraiser a success!
Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported the Film fundraiser “No. 2″ to raise money to purchase cots for new born babies at the ASRC. There were 94 tickets sold, the total amount raised was $1500 and it was a lovely evening. Sincere thanks to everyone for your support.

* ASRC Calendars and ASRC gifts available be purchased

There are a number of beautiful ASRC gifts and items which are now available to be purchased. Please see the ASRC gift catalogue available on the website www.asrc.org.au

Also available is the terrific ASRC calendar, which can be purchased from Readings book stores, or online
http://www.readings.com.au/BookWeb/details.cgi?ITEMNO=2776000517982

* Christmas Appeal: Call out for Coles-Myer Vouchers or Movie Tickets

I know you have all been asked to give a lot this year . . . but as with last year; we would like to be able to give something to every family and individual. For adults, we would like to be able to give a gift voucher for coles-myer (of say $20 each) and for our teenagers; we would like to be able to provide some movie tickets for the holidays.

If you are able to donate either of these or money towards our Christmas appeal, please send in or drop off vouchers, movie tickets or money to Heidi Abdel-Raouf (ASRC Casework coordinator). If you have any questions, please phone Heidi on ph.9326 6033 or email heidi.a@asrc.org.au The ASRC’s address is: 67 Jeffcott Street West Melbourne 3003

For younger children, we are fortunate in being able to access plenty of free, good quality new toys for children aged 1 – 12 years from the Brotherhood of St Lawrence so we will not require donations of toys this year. We do however need your help (again!) to be able to provide for teenagers and adults. Thank-you

* To assist at the End of Year Party

The End of Year Party is on Sunday December 3rd at the Flagstaff Gardens. If anyone is able to assist on the day or with some of the preparations, there is a meeting at the ASRC this Wednesday November 22nd at 6:30pm. Please email Rebekah Barson rebekah.barson@isispc.com.au if you can help out in any way.

* To collect food from the Fairfield food drop off point on Thursdays

We are looking for someone who is able to assist with collect food from the Fairfield Food Drop-off point and bring it to the ASRC in Wes t Melbourne as one of our two existing volunteers in this role is no longer able to continue. If you are available on Thursdays from 10am – 1pm and think you may be able to help, please contact either:
Jenny Huntley, who is the existing volunteer in this role on:
ph. 0425 783 394 / fingraoph@alphalink.com.au OR be in contact with
Patrick Lawrence Food-Bank coordinator:
ph. 93266066 / asrcfood@yahoo.com.au

* To assist at the ASRC’s Toy Gift Shop
ASRC Toy and Gift Shop – Sunday December 10 & Monday December 11

The Toy Fairy is running a toy and gift shop for asylum seeker children on Sunday December 10 and Monday December 11.  Please contact the Toy Fairy on 0411 891 733 or joyce.kwok@mallesons.com if you are:
- a helpful elf with a car and can pick up gifts from Canterbury &/or Alphington in the afternoon of Friday December 8 and deliver these to the ASRC.
- a helpful elf who can set up and distribute toys and gifts at the ASRC on Sunday Dec 11 & Monday Dec 12

* To entertain at the Volunteers Party

If you have a musical/ comedy/ performing talent or if you are part of a group and you would be interested in helping make our volunteer party (Dec. 8th) at the ASRC a memorable evening, please email me johanna.b@asrc.org.au

* ASRC’s Annual General Meeting – Monday November 20th

The AGM commences at 6:30pm, Monday November 20th. All volunteers are invited to attend. There is a one off $5 membership fee available which will allow you to vote for the committee of management nominees at the AGM.

* ASRC’s End of Year BBQ – Sunday December 3rd

A great afternoon to be held in the Flagstaff Gardens for everyone in the ASRC community to come toge ther and celebrate. Food, music and excellent entertainment provided. Please especially encourage all asylum seeker families and individuals to come along!

* ASRC’s Volunteers Party – Friday December 8th

As a small appreciation, the ASRC will have a volunteer party, on Friday (evening) December 8th at the centre from 6pm – all volunteers/ partners & families are very welcome. There will be good food, drink and (most importantly) fantastic company of many other volunteers – we hope you can come along!

* ASRC Toy Store – Sunday December 10th & Monday December 11th

Toys will be available at the centre for asylum seeker parents to chose from on Sunday December 10th & Monday December 11th. As was the case from last year; instead of distributing toys at the end of year BBQ; parents will be able to chose and collect toys from the toy store to be set-up at the ASRC a week after the end of year party.

The High Court yesterday overturned a decision of the Federal Court which means that for asylum seekers on Temporary Protection Visa’s who are applying to be accepted as permanent refugees, the responsibility is theirs and not the government to prove that they are still at risk in their own country and are still a refugee. The Howard government appealed the Federal Court decision which said the government carries the onus to prove someone is no longer a refugee, and ofcourse they fought this and took it to a High Court that they have stacked with conservative judges. The hypocriscy of our government when they are the ones that at every opportunity have sought to thwart asylum seekers fundamental human rights to permanent protection. All people seeking asylum who were granted TPV’s would have been permanent refugees in the first instant in any other country.

This is a government that deliberately froze for over a year the processing of Afghan and Iraqi TPV’s holder permanent protection applications in the hope they could reject them in time and also politicised the protection process by rejecting most Iraqi’s and Afgans initially at the DIMA stage. The most salient example being that more than 50% of our Iraqi clients were rejected by DIMA and yet 99.5% were then accepted by the RRT!

Please note this decision does not affect anyone who has a permanent protection visa and it does not mean people on TPV’s will not be able to get a permanent visa, but it will be more difficult to get.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20761616-29277,00.html

It just shows how we need to keep fighting the good fight to keep this government accountable for its actions and protecting the human rights of people seeking asylum.

Sadly the Howard Government’s latest brainwave of inhumanity when it comes to people seeking asylum is spend $240 million dollars to build an 800 bed prison on Christmas Island. When we have only 151 boat arrivals in the past 5 years, what are they doing? Electric fences, cameras in every room and motion detectors to name but a few of the barbaric trappings of this place! What an appalling disgrace, so much for a new era and culture for DIMA and the Howard Government when it comes to asylum seekers! http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/detention-camp-has-it-all-but-no-people/2006/11/16/1163266639951.html