Tampa Day across Australia

Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Wollongong, WILL WILLIAMS, Brisbane">

Tampa Day across Australia

Brisbane

BILL MASON reports that around 150 people rallied and marched in
inner suburban West End on August 24. Chaired by Mike Byrne on behalf of
the Refugee Action Collective, the rally was addressed by Murri activist
Sam Watson and elected Victorian state secretary of the Australian Manufacturing
Workers Union Craig Johnston, both Socialist Alliance members. “The issue
of refugees is trade union business”, Johnston told the crowd. ALP councillor
Terry Hampson addressed the crowd on behalf of Labor for Refugees.

Cairns

SUSAN AUSTIN reports that around 40 people attended a lunchtime
rally called at four days' notice to hear speakers from Amnesty International,
the Queensland Public Sector Union, the ALP and the Refugee Action Collective,
as well as a Romanian refugee. Wearing black armbands, the protestors marched
to the immigration department and stayed there chanting “Lock up Ruddock,
Free the refugees!”

Canberra

KERRIE BARRON reports that a giant armband stretched across the
Garema Place stage on August 26. Stitched its length in red writing was
the warning “Don’t Tampa with Human Rights”.

The 400-strong rally was organised by the Refugee Action Committee (RAC).
A mock Pacific island with suitcase, empty water bottle and children's
life jacket highlighted the heartlessness of the Coalition government.
A massive card gathered 100 signatures and messages of thanks to the captain
of the MV Tampa. Other artwork included enormous pink hearts printed
with “Have a Heart Ruddock”.

Representatives of the ACT multicultural council and Radio 2XX spoke
and greetings were heard from Bishop Pat Power, ACT Trades and Labour Council
secretary Jeremy Pyner and Barry Howarth from the National Tertiary Education
Industry Union. Protesters were entertained by the Union Voices and the
Shiny Bums choirs and blues performer Stephen Russell.

Darwin

RUTH RATCLIFF reports that Tampa Day was marked with an candle-light
vigil on August 25 which brought 100 people to the Mindil Beach Markets.
Representatives from the NT Multicultural Council, the Darwin Refugee Health
Network, the Democrats, the Socialist Alliance, the Reclaim the Night Collective
and the NTU Refugee Sanctuary Campaign addressed the crowd. An impressive
candle-lit march along the beach and through the markets drew a few hecklers,
who were, however, drowned out by chanting in support of refugees.

Lismore

NICK FREDMAN
reports that a 10-day hunger strike and an outdoor “refugee embassy” from
August 16, organised by the Lismore Refugee Action Collective, got almost
daily local print and TV coverage, gathered over 1000 petition signatures,
and sold numerous armbands.

On August 23 a premiere of a children's pantomine on refugees enjoyed
a packed house of more 100 people, mostly big kids. For the August 25 National
Council of Churches' Refugee Sunday, Lismore Rural Australians for Refugees
(RAR) organised a networking meeting, attracting 40, followed by a public
meeting, attracting 80.

At the Anglican Church that evening, despite miserable weather about
100 people attended a rally and heard from RAC activists, Greens, the Socialist
Alliance and the local Anglican pastor before marching to local National
MP Ian Causley's office.

To chants of “Open the borders, Close the camps”, Causley's long-suffering
staff (“Oh it's you again” they said as we trooped in) accepted copies
of some 1000 signatures to rebut Causley's statements in parliament that
no-one in his electorate cares about refugees.

Newcastle

KATHY NEWNAM reports that 100 people attended a Tampa Day vigil.
Many had found out from a student general meeting called to discuss the
campaign to get the university to declare itself a refugee safe haven.
The “youth contingent” included a performance art troupe from the Central
Coast.

Melbourne

A small vigil outside the immigration department attracted a lot of media
in the morning. Melbourne University High School, Vermont Secondary College
and Princess Hill students ordered and distributed armbands. Lawyers from
Slater and Gordon also took part.

Perth

ALEX SALMON reports that on August 27, 35 people attended a public
meeting organised by the Refugee Rights Action Network at the Hellenic
club. Rosemary Miller from the Uniting Church's social justice commission
and Russell Pickering from RRAN addressed the meeting.

Miller argued for a grassroots movement, saying she had failed to elicit
any humanitarian response in her discussions with Labor Party figures.
The next meeting of RRAN will be held at the Hellenic Club at 6.30pm on
September 10. Phone (08) 9218 9608 for details.

Tasmania

DARREN JIGGENS reports that an table distributed information and
armbands in the Hobart mall. At one stage about 40 primary school students
stopped at near-by traffic lights and, after a little bit of encouragement,
one lone voice stepped forward to get an armband. Two seconds later the
stall was mobbed by everyone else all wanting armbands.

On Tasmania University, a well patronised information table and distributed
about 100 armbands. Activists in Launceston attempted to hold a stall in
the main city mall but were moved by to a quieter spot, where they still
managed to distribute armbands.

Sydney

PAUL BENEDEK reports that activists organised by Free the Refugees
Campaign converged on Sydney's busiest train stations distributing black
armbands and getting petitions signed. From Central to Sydney's west, north
and south west, there was an overwhelmingly favourable response from passers-by.
So much so, that at Summer Hill station the arm bands had run out after
just half an hour prompting an activist to race home and grab some black
material to replenish the supply. A passer-by in Newtown proudly declared
he had organised his 250 co-workers to wear armbands for the day. Interest
and support from the local high school was also high.

One activist set up a huge refugee display at his workplace, SBS TV.
When security tried to dismantle it, the controversy sparked support and
he managed to distribute more than 100 armbands. Activists on many universities
around the country distributed armbands with, in many cases, teachers,
students and staff taking part.

An evening vigil organised by the Refugee Action Coalition and Labor
for Refugees at Sydney Town Hall that evening attracted 350 people who
heard from a variety of speakers including John Maitland from the Construction,
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

Wollongong

WILL WILLIAMS reports that a successful media conference on August
24 organised by the Refugee Action Collective ensured that the Tampa Day
campaign received huge media coverage. A big campus RAC stall went off,
with lots of armbands distributed and new faces getting involved.

From Green Left Weekly, September 4, 2002.

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