A basic human right

For the past four years, I have spent my Friday afternoons in the home of a Sudanese family who came seeking asylum from their country. Each Friday, I work with three of their children and last night was no different. Except for an announcement from our government. 

While I was in the warmth of their home, Kevin Rudd, the man who calls himself leader of our country, was announcing that asylum seekers who arrive by boat will have simply no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees. Instead of keeping our agreement to the Refugee Convention and our values as Australians with “boundless plains to share”, our government has agreed for asylum seekers to be processed and resettled in Papua New Guinea. 

Papua New Guinea, the poorest country in the Asia-Pacific that has endured many years of political instability and in-country conflict resulting in a breakdown of infrastructure. This is the country Kevin Rudd has deemed suitable for the immense and complicated task of processing and resettling refugees. Just recently I finished working on the Live Below the Line campaign, where I was raising awareness and funds for the people of Papua New Guinea as more than half their population are living on less than $2AU each day. These funds were to go towards assisting the young people of Papua New Guinea to access education where there is a severe lack and to gain the necessary skills needed for employment. Yet, this is the same country where Kevin Rudd believes is the right place for the already vulnerable people seeking asylum from their countries. 

I currently have a family friend who is working with Save the Children in Papua New Guinea. I have heard first hand of the conditions there. The conflict and instability has not passed with time. Each day, there are large armed guards at her hotel and place of work. Even our own government recognises the dangers of travelling there and warns Australians to “exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea” through their Smart Travellers website. Yet, this is the country Kevin Rudd has agreed to send those seeking asylum at our shores. 

“Australia has international obligations to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of how or where they arrive with or without a visa.”

~ Australian Human Rights Commission

How can it be that our government can pass such a ridiculous and unjust policy that goes against our international obligations and the compassion of the Australian people? I do not understand one iota what went through Rudd’s head as he signed that document. Kevin Rudd, a fellow Christian, was certainly not asking himself the question of “what would Jesus do?” Jesus, who I may point out, had to seek asylum and flee from his home country just like those seeking refuge at our borders. But Kevin Rudd did not think. He just signed.

We can make him think. We will make him listen. We have to do what is just.

Australia must take action and rally against this unbelievable injustice. So please, I ask of you to call, write, email, paint the sky with messages of human rights. Seeking asylum is not illegal, we will help our neighbours.

Australia has obligations to not return or send people to countries where they will face risks of violation of human rights, whether they are proven to be refugees or not. Kevin Rudd, I believe has lost his sense of human rights. 

We need to make Kevin Rudd see that he is not leading Australia in a positive direction.