Refugee Action Collective is proud to host a public forum to challenge the anti-people smuggling rhetoric dominant in Australian politics. Seeking asylum by boat is not a crime. However, those who assist asylum seekers to reach Australia's shores via informal travel arrangements have been systematically demonised by both Labor and Liberal parties. This is backed up by mandatory sentencing laws for anyone found to have participated in people smuggling. Hundreds of poor Indonesian fishers, including dozens of minors, have been jailed for the mandatory 3 years in Australia. The criminalisation of people smuggling, combined with the militarisation of Australia's borders and the impounding and destruction of boats intercepted, is what makes the boat journey to Australia so needlessly dangerous. Speakers: Arnold Zable (award-winning writer and refugee advocate); Sarah Hanson Young (federal Greens senator); lawyer for Indonesian fishermen; Peter Farrago (Refugee Action Collective member and former people-smuggler); Nockie Le (Vietnamese refugee).
Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, City (opposite Victoria Markets). Small donation welcome.