Category Statement

Father Bob Maguire was an advocate for the poor, the homeless and those who were marginalised by society.

He was also a fierce advocate for refugee rights. 

Many will have seen him at the Park Hotel/Prison last year at age 87, when he entered the cage in solidarity with the men held in the Park.

Again last year, Father Bob accepted RAC’s invitation to speak at the MITA detention centre against the incarceration of refugees and the 501s. (See photo.)

Father Bob’s connection and advocacy with RAC dates back to 2017.

On 2 September 2017, RAC called an action outside State Parliament under the slogan, LET THEM STAY-MAKE THEM WELCOME-BRING THEM HERE.

The speaking list at the event was: Aran Mylvaganam – Tamil refugee; Andrew Giles – then shadow Immigration Minister; Dr Helen Driscoll – trauma psychiatrist; Shawfikul Islam – Rohingyan refugee; and a late inclusion, Father Bob.

A message was left by Father Bob’s assistant that he couldn’t speak at the protest because he had two weddings to perform on that day.

I called back to thank the assistant for getting back to me, but to my surprise Father Bob picked up the phone, we had a long chat and he asked lots of questions about RAC. 

At the end of our chat he said he would come and speak at the protest before the weddings, but warned he would need to make a quick getaway to make it on time for the weddings.

There was a huge police presence at the protest, nothing out of the ordinary, but what was extraordinary was that l had three policemen come up to me wanting to find out whether it was true that Father Bob was going to speak. It appeared they were fans.

Needless to say, the police on the day were quite friendly.

Thank you for you love and solidarity, Father Bob. Vale.

Helen Panopoulos, on behalf of RAC

13 February 2023

The announcement that the more than 19,000 refugees on temporary and safe haven visas (TPVs and SHEVs) will finally be able to get permanent residency is welcome but long overdue.

After 10 years or more in limbo, refugees will now be able to plan their lives, get permanent jobs, attend university, travel overseas and sponsor family members to join them.

But the decision could and should have been much quicker – Labor gave the Biloela family permanent protection in a matter of weeks.

Now, nine months after winning the election, Labor is asking refugees to apply for a Resolution of Status (RoS) visa, a process that will see some refugees waiting for an outcome until this time next year.

But this is far from the end of the campaign for refugee rights.

Labor has not abolished TPVs and SHEVs – furthermore, it has just renewed the status of Nauru as an offshore processing island and is paying a company more than $400 million to maintain an empty detention centre for possible use.

While Immigration Minister Andrew Giles announced the good news, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil played hard cop to his soft cop, threatening anyone who attempts to arrive by boat.

Labor continues to support Operation Sovereign Borders, which includes boat turnbacks and offshore detention, with no path to residency.

A the same time, Labor is offering nothing to those rejected as refugees under the flawed fast track process, and it has nothing to say to refugees and asylum-seekers who were deported to Nauru or Papua New Guinea and who are still stuck there.

Labor is also silent on the fate of refuges who were sent offshore and who have since been brought to Australia for medical treatment. Medevac refugees like Farhad Bandesh and Mostafa Azimitabar, who have built new lives in Australia, still have no path to permanent protection.

And we must not forget the 14,000 refugees trapped in Indonesia, who were barred from Australia by Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison.

RAC welcomes the 19,000 refugees who are celebrating today’s announcement as sisters and brothers in our communities.

But we will continue to campaign for an end to Operation Sovereign Borders, for the lifting of the ban on refugees in Indonesia, and for permanent visas for everyone who is caught up in the hell of Australia’s refugee policy.

We call on all refugee supporters to join the Palm Sunday rally at 1pm at the State Library on 2 April, to send a clear message – permanent visas for all. None of us are free until we are all free.

RAC Vic has made a submission to the Department of Home Affairs review of Australia’s migration system.

RAC’s recommendations include:

• all refugees and asylum-seekers remaining in PNG or Nauru be brought here ASAP
• all amendments to the Migration Act that inserted or further “strengthened” sections 501 and 116 (and closely related provisions) be repealed
• the Migration Act’s Refugee Convention-based definition of “refugee” be extended to cover people forced to leave their country due to the effects of climate change
• all refugees and asylum-seekers who arrive in Australia receive the humanitarian program’s level of support and benefits
• permanent visas be granted ASAP to the following non-citizens: refugees and asylum-seekers denied justice by the unfair “Fast Track” system; all those who were or are detained in Australia, Nauru or PNG; and those on TPVs, SHEVs, and Bridging Visas.

Read the RAC submission in full.