Action and attitude
In the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord's commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves. Once we have the right attitude, our actions should reflect and consolidate this attitude. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) advocates for attitudes based on compassion, justice, mercy, acceptance and encounter. Actions based on these attitudes seek to comfort the afflicted, provide refuge for the persecuted and be a homeland for the exiled.
Increase foreign aid and remittances
Poverty, conflict, persecution and human rights abuses are the main underlying conditions which force people to leave their homes and homeland. Our first response to forced migrations should always be to raise our eyes and see the suffering our brothers and sisters face in poor and war-torn countries. ACMRO advocates for generous and long-term commitments of foreign aid to address the conditions causing displacement and programs which build respect for human rights.
Protect displaced people at the source
Asylum seekers who are fleeing from armed conflict, violence or persecution are looking for a place of safety and hope. As conflicts erupt, the overwhelming majority of displaced people travel little further than their nearest neighbours. At this point many have lost their loved ones and their livelihood. Sadly in most cases, these horrific situations will last for many years. Australia's humanitarian program save lives, especially when displaced people are resettled directly from the war-torn country of origin and surrounding neighbours. Australia’s resettlement program provides a safe legal and orderly pathway to Australia. It provides people with the opportunity to escape the violence and persecution and importantly it offers hope. The decision to reach Australia by boat is a second-best alternative to applying directly for a visa and migrating in a regular way. Displaced people are less likely to seek asylum clandestinely if an alternative pathway is available.
Immigration detention is harmful
From the Church’s long-standing pastoral work with prisoners of all kinds, we know that detention which is not linked to rehabilitation is harmful to people and should always be the last resort, even for those who have committed crimes. It is not a crime to seek asylum. In fact many asylum seekers are survivors of crimes, torture and trauma. Immigration detention adds to the anxiety and suffering of asylum seekers which often worsens their mental and physical health. Children should never be detained solely on the basis of their immigration status. Holding children in immigration detention is always a violation of the rights of the child. ACMRO advocates that no one should be placed in detention without judicial authority and a fair trial.
Legal aid, pastoral support and translators
Determining whether or not someone is a refugee requires that we listen to their story. Many asylum seekers find retelling their often horrific stories of persecution and violence incredibly challenging. On top of this, their story must fit within the legal framework of the 1951 Refugee Convention if they are to be considered for refugee status. Their life hangs in the balance because of the difficulty of both being able to tell their story, having it understood and being able to navigate Australia’s complex refugee status determination system. ACMRO advocates asylum seekers be given the opportunity to make use of translators, legal assistance and pastoral support throughout their application for protection. To this end, we urge the Government to reconsider its proposal to withdraw access to IAAAS support from asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat.
Right to work, education and language
It is essential that asylum seekers be given the right to work. The journey to find protection does not suddenly end once asylum seekers have left the immediate conflict zone. All of us need the ongoing protection of work to provide for our basic needs. Access to health care, education, even food and shelter all extend from being able to find work and provide for one’s family. Without the right to work, very soon asylum seekers find they are in desperate need of protection from destitution and poverty. It is also essential asylum seekers be given the opportunity to learn English and further their education so that they can actively participate and engage in the Australian workforce and way of life.