ACT MPs to sign refugee rights charter

CANBERRA — On June 16, a majority of the members of the ACT Legislative Assembly from all major parties, as well as church and community leaders, will sign on to a Refugee Rights Charter and a call for the national capital to become a "refugee welcome town".

The sign-on will be chaired by the ALP's Wayne Berry, the speaker of the assembly. Acting ACT Chief Minister John Hargreaves is expected to sign onto the charter and the welcome town call, as is ACT Liberal Party leader Brendan Smyth and Greens MLA Deb Foskey.

The sign-on will be a precursor to a World Refugee Day rally on June 18 calling for an end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

For more information or to get involved phone Andrew on 0438 624 744 or visit <http://www.refugeeaction.org/rac/WorldRefugeeDay.htm>.

Andrew Hall

From Green Left Weekly, June 8, 2005.

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From GLW issue 629