Andrew Hall, Bundanoon

Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), the movement of grassroots rural and regional refugee supporters, now has 90 groups in towns across Australia.

Ninety members and supporters gathered at RAR's 2001 birthplace in Bundanoon, in the NSW Southern Highlands, for their third national conference on March 19-20. The conference focused on RAR's future planning in the wake of the re-election of the Coalition government.

Much discussion was framed around the recent announcement by immigration minister Amanda Vanstone that some long-term detainees may be allowed to live in the community while their visa applications are being processed.

RAR welcomed the announcement and urged all cabinet members to support this change. RAR continues to call for long-term detainees to be allowed to live in the community with full rights to work and to social services such as Medicare.

RAR argues that refugees are being severely harmed by long-term detention. It also argues that, if released into the general community, they could make a positive contribution to Australia, pointing out that Afghan temporary visa holders in Young, NSW, have contributed in excess of $2 million to the local economy in an 18-month period.

The conference was attended by a number of refugees now living and working in rural and regional areas. Members of local RAR groups who had helped with their needs, such as accommodation, also spoke about the bonds of friendship that the refugees had made within their new communities.

“Rural and regional areas in Australia historically have found it difficult to attract people for work, and refugees are now contributing to the rural and regional economies and social life”, said one RAR member.

For further information about RAR email <admin@ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org> or visit <http://www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, April 6, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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