It's time - to free the refugees

[dreamer_easy]

Right. Now we've all got some sleep, the real work starts!

The new government is the first chance for substantial change that Australia's had for more than a decade. Now there's a hope of being heard, we've got to let the new Labor leaders know what we want to be done differently.

For me, that starts with the incredible suffering this nation has inflicted on refugees and asylum seekers. It was the Labor party who invented mandatory detention; they should be the ones to dismantle it in favour of a system that's both safe and sane. Kevin Rudd says he'll drop the Pacific solution; we must hold him to that promise.

Why not email Kevin Rudd right now at Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au? Congratulate him on his victory, and ask him to end mandatory detention, welcome the proven refugees still on Nauru into Australia, and to shut down the detention centre on Nauru as quickly as possible.

Comments

[mrteufel.livejournal.com]

He's a Christian - he could free them in time for Christmas!

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! And an appropriate opportunity to bring up Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus' flight into Egypt as refugees.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Will do.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

On ya!

[purplepooka.livejournal.com]

we've got to let the new Labor leaders know what we want to be done differently

Why is this phrase bringing back memories of 1997 for me?
I still have a postcard whose design mimicks a tub of a famous brand of margerine, bearing the slogan - "New Labour - I can't believe it's not better!"

They're all the same, Doom, Doom, Doom...

[jblum.livejournal.com]

At the moment, after the past decade, we're at the point where we're grateful for *any* improvement!

And astonishingly for Australian politics, this time the opposition won by actually trying to *differentiate* themselves from the sitting government (usually they don't have the guts), and promising very specific policy changes on things ranging from industrial relations to global warming. So even if they don't get any better in other areas, at least some things will be returning to sanity...

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Australia! Go you! =:o}