Locals fight for asylum seekers

CORANGAMITE electorate residents have banded together to call for changes to government policy for refugees and people seeking asylum.

Locals launched the “Choose Fairness and Decency” campaign recently in Barwon Heads, to ask the public to consider this issue as they vote in the upcoming federal election.

One of the local organisers, Sue Longmore, said she was very concerned about the impact of long-term, indefinite offshore detention on the physical and mental health of people who asked for safety.

“We are also very concerned that people already living here, who have been assessed as refugees, do not have access to family reunion and the permanency needed to properly rebuild their lives, just because they arrived by sea,” Ms Longmore said.

“We want policies that are fair and non-discriminatory. We want people to be treated with the decency they deserve as our fellow human beings.”

The Choose Fairness and Decency group has no political affiliation.

“We are interested in good policy, not who it comes from,” Ms Longmore said.

“We will make flyers available, which compare the refugee policies of major parties, at pre-election events and at polling centres in Corangamite, for those who share our concerns.”

The group advises that comparison flyers have been thoroughly checked against the policies available on party websites and in party media statements at time of print and meet the requirements of the Australian Electoral Commission.