THE arrival in Brisbane of 21 refugees from Nauru has been met by unbelievable positive public and media interest.
At the Romero Centre we are being inundated with callers – good folk wanting to help and welcome the men.
They express particular concern about the 356 survivors left on Nauru, especially the women and children whose husbands and fathers are proven refugees living in Australia.
Boxes of fruit, blankets, linen and toiletries arrived. Offers of accommodation, furniture, telephone cards and donations followed.
The men have asked us to thank you for your kindness and beg your understanding that they need some time now in peace to recover from their ordeal and to adjust to their new situation. They want to learn English and to work and to thank Australia through their hard work and commitment.
The most amazing thing for Romero volunteers who have been supporting refugees on temporary visas for more than three years, is that only now are many Australians becoming aware of the effect on ‘genuine’ asylum seekers of long term indefinite detention.
They are beginning to understand about the mental cruelty and despair that marked the two years of detention for these men who committed no crime and were in no way illegal.
And being aware, Australians express utter disgust that we have treated fellow human beings so badly. The acute shame is about damaging children, stealing their innocent childhood from them and about keeping families separated.
Australians are realising that second class refugee status is the fate this government imposes on refugees when it grants only three or five-year temporary visas instead of permanent residence.
Temporary visas mean life in limbo, with no prospect of family reunion or settling and putting down roots. It means grief and despair and growing frustration.
There is no access to normal settlement services to make a success of their new lives. What new lives? They are the most marginalised refugee group in Australian history.
People ask, ‘What can I do?’ I say, stand up and be counted. Tell your MP that indefinite detention of asylum seekers is a breach of human rights and it has to stop.
Detention centres must close. Get those people off Nauru. There are humane alternatives. The government knows them. Tell your MP that temporary visas for refugees are an obscenity.
We must return to the generous and humane policy of granting a new start, a new life in peace and freedom in Australia for those who fled persecution.
And remember our own family’s immigrant and refugee background and be thankful and willing to share this wonderful country.
FREDERIKA STEEN
Romero Centre
Buranda, Qld
