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In November 2023, RAC (Vic) held an action outside the State Library to protest the long-standing ban on refugees from Indonesia.

In 2014 the Australian government implemented a ban on the resettlement of refugees from Indonesia.

This meant that people who had signed up with the UNHCR in Indonesia for resettlement in Australia and who had been found to be refugees by that organisation were forbidden to do so. The Albanese government maintains the ban today.

Indonesia is a major regional gateway for people to come to Australia from countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran and Sudan.

As Indonesia is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention this ban has left 14,000 men, women and children in limbo. They are living in poverty with no work rights and no future.

Most Australians would have no idea about this ban and so the situation goes largely unchallenged and unscrutinised.

RAC (Vic) is determined to highlight this appalling situation and stand in solidarity with those currently in limbo in Indonesia.

Although the protest drew a relatively small crowd it had a big impact on those most affected by the ban. We received dozens of messages during and after the livestream from refugees in limbo in Indonesia who were glad to see people standing in solidarity with them.

Here are just a few quotes from refugees who either participated in the action via phone or who watched the livestream. The quotes show that our actions matter.

They also show that those affected by Australia’s policies are people – not numbers or cases but people. These people have hopes and dreams and Australia’s brutal policies stand in the way.

We must continue to shine a light on this injustice and build the protest against it. “From little things, big things grow.”

We will be planning more actions in 2024. Please join us.

To the Australian people who demonstrated for us yesterday, I am writing to you today to express my sincere gratitude for your support … You have shown us that we are not forgotten and that there are people who care about our plight … it gave us hope that one day we will be able to rebuild our lives in a safe and welcoming country. We will never forget it. (Alireza)

Thank you for the rally and support. It came at a crucial time. People were losing hope. I hope to see more of this support. Your support is touching hearts and saving lives. (Hussain)

Thank you for standing in solidarity with the forgotten refugees in Indonesia. (Noor)

Sending love from Indonesia to you dear Australian kind heart people. Thanks for raise up our poor voice. We are here in Indonesia living about 11 years without any basic human rights. (Mahdi)

We all appreciate your kindness and caring about refugees in Indonesia. Thank you so much. (Assadullah)

By Barbara Forehan

Police have dropped charges against eight Refugee Action Collective Vic (RAC) activists who were fined for taking part in a car cavalcade on Good Friday 2020.

Refugee supporters had formed a COVID-safe motorcade to show support for Medevac refugees held inside the Mantra Hotel in the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston.

RAC spokesperson Lucy Honan said, “These fines should never have been imposed in the first place. They were part of a draconian and authoritarian reaction to the pandemic that saw the quashing of protest and dissent.

“Refugee supporters argued consistently that the health and wellbeing of refugees in detention could not be ignored until the pandemic was over.

“Our protests, including the cavalcade, were always COVID-safe. And our campaign was justified, with the Morrison government eventually freeing all refugees from hotel detention.

“Our only ‘crime’ was to show solidarity with the refugees. It’s a disgrace that the fines were imposed and that it’s taken three and a half years for the police to drop the charges. But today we stand vindicated.”

Honan said the police had charged about 30 people with not having a reasonable excuse to be outside the hotel even though the refugees were saying they were in urgent need of community support. Some activists had paid their fines while others were put on diversion orders with no fines after guilty pleas.

She added, “There is a growing trend by governments across Australia to attack the right to protest and to stand up for solidarity and human rights.

“Our victory today shows that protest is legitimate and necessary. The shocking moves by the Albanese government to undermine the High Court’s ruling to abolish indefinite detention is just the latest indication that Labor wants to keep every facet of the Liberals’ inhuman anti-refugee policies in place.

“RAC will continue to be on the streets arguing for permanent visas for the Medevac refugees and for all victims of Australia’s cruel border control policies.”

For background on the case, visit https://rac-vic.org/defend-the-right-to-protest-free-the-refugees/

Organisations that backed the campaign to drop the charges included:

• Maritime Union of Australia
• United Workers Union
• Australian Education Union Victoria Branch
• Health and Community Services Union
• CFMEU Construction & General Division VIC/TAS Branch
• NTEU Victorian Division
• ETU Queensland and NT Branch
• Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council
• RMIT University NTEU branch committee
• Federation University NTEU branch committee
• The Victorian Greens
• Tamil Refugee Council

RAC activist Margaret Sinclair reported on the situation for refugees in Indonesia to the executive of the Victorian Trades Hall Council on 23 June.

The executive carried the following motion unanimously.

Victorian Trades Hall and its affiliates note that 14,000 refugees are trapped in Indonesia, most for eight years and many for ten years or more.

Australian governments have contributed to this inhumane situation. In November 2014, Scott Morrison, then Minister for Immigration, announced that Australia would not accept any refugees who applied through the UNHCR for resettlement after 1 July 2014.

Refugees in Indonesia are not allowed to work, study, get a driver’s licence or get married.

Before the 2022 federal election, Labor said it would give “appropriate consideration” to resettlement of those recognised as refugees in Indonesia by the UNHCR.

Its policy also stated: “Subject to Australian vetting processes and sovereignty concerns Labor will positively consider such refugees for inclusion within the increased humanitarian intake.”

One year on from the election, Victorian Trades Hall therefore calls on the Labor federal government to lift the ban on refugees arriving in Australia from Indonesia through the UNHCR program and expedite their transfer.

Victorian Trades Hall encourages all affiliates to invite speakers from refugees who have been in Indonesia, and from the Refugee Action Collective.