Wednesday 12 June 2013

Following the drowning of 55 asylum seekers off the coast of Christmas Island this week, a recently formed inter-denominational Taskforce is calling on Christians to provide a strong moral voice in the debate surrounding refugees and asylum seekers.

Formed earlier this year, the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) is made up of 16 people representing a range of churches and Christian organisations. Already it’s been busy, with members recently meeting with Federal politicians during Budget week to lobby against diverting aid money to the immigration budget.

While the Government still went ahead with the proposed reallocation of funds, the Executive Officer of the Taskforce, Misha Coleman says it was revealing to hear MPs speak during their meetings about the lack of contact from the public on refugee issues.

“Politicians do react to constituents calling. Several people said to us, look, such and such a thing happened, but we didn’t hear from anybody, so we assumed it wasn’t an issue.”

Misha, who is also a Greens Councillor for Yarra City (in Melbourne) says the case of the 55 asylum seekers who drowned off Christmas Island this week is an opportunity for Christians to take a stand and demand answers.

Fairfax media has reported the boat which sank this week was first seen by authorities last Wednesday, but Border Protection Command didn’t immediately send a boat to aid the flailing vessel, waiting until Friday to issue an alert. Refugee advocates have been calling for an inquiry into the delay between first sighting and assistance.

Misha says Christians can do more than regret the tragic deaths—they can call their local MP.

“If 15 people call an electorate office in a day, that will be the issue of the day, and any Member of Parliament who wants to get re-elected will take action.”

And the ACRT is encouraging churches and individuals to frame the issues according to their Christian values.

“It’s a very cold, hard politik that’s driving policy, as opposed to the fact that we’re a signatory to the refugee convention, that we’re a very rich first-world country and that we have a Christian obligation to welcome the stranger and love thy neighbour.”

Another aim of the ACRT is to ensure Christian politicians and MPs are across the issues and able to offer a Christian response. She says giving positive feedback to those politicians who do stick their neck out is vital.

“We met with one Member of Parliament who had taken a very strong stance that really alienated him in his party. He got national coverage for doing so, and yet he had three letters across Australia to say thank you for taking this stance.”

The ACRT is also hoping to tackle unhelpful vernacular surrounding the refugee debate, including the misuse of the phrase “illegal asylum seekers” (it’s not illegal to seek asylum), the concept of “queue jumping” and the negative connotations attached to “boat people”.

“For people to get on a boat they do all sorts of things; they sell everything they have; they go into indentured labour scenarios,” says Misha. “It’s not like people are rich and they get on boats. Actually, if people are rich they get on a plane.”

Misha says people illegally overstaying their visas after arriving in Australia by plane is more of a problem for Australia than asylum seekers coming by boat, but they don’t experience the same stigma.

“They’re not demonised or spoken about in the same way. They’re much more invisible; they’re not swimming about in shark-infested waters around Christmas Island and drowning.”

Churches and individuals can get involved as part of World Refugee Day this Sunday or Refugee Week around Australia next week by visiting the Refugee Council’s website, and can learn more about the ACRT here.

Image: ACRT.