Unions Welcome Refugees: Freedom Celebration BBQ

Arts, culture & social functions
Naarm/Melbourne

Where

Victorian Trades Hall
54 Victoria St, Carlton
Carlton VIC 3053
Australia

Why

Please note this event has changed date to April 30 to avoid clashes with other events (Friday April 30 is the first date Trades Hall is available after the Comedy Festival)

NOTE: EVENTBRITE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL.

There will be halal and vegetarian options. Entry is free and donations are welcome, but tickets are a must due to limits imposed by Covid-19 restrictions. Only 200 tickets are available - get yours now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/welcome-refugees-freedom-celebration-bbq-tickets-144159945277

There will be short speeches by
Mohammed Imran - Freed Medevac Refugee
Farhad Bandesh - Freed Medevac Refugee
Luke Hilakari - Trades Hall Council State Secretary
chaired by Betelhem Zeleke - refugee previously held on Nauru now free

We gather to celebrate the release of around 120 (over 60 in Melbourne) of the nearly 200 refugees who came to Australia under Medevac legislation after almost 8 years - over 6 years offshore, and well over 1 year in Australia.

Victorian Trades Hall Council, Unionists for Refugees, and The Refugee Action Collective invite you to a celebration and welcome BBQ for the refugees who have been freed.

Any money raised by donations on the night will be given directly to the released refugees, as they have been forced onto on 6-month Bridging Visas, like all people, families and children who have been transferred from Offshore Processing.

The Government does not not permit study or provide ongoing income support safety nets while people recover their health and get back on their feet.

The Government refuses to take up NZ offer to resettle people or give them a home here, forcing people who have survived 8 years of harmful, health destroying indefinite detention and offshore processing to live without a future or a permanent home.

People are reliant on charity to feed themselves and their families, as employers are often reluctant to employ people on short-term visas. We call on the Morrison Government for permanent visas so people can rebuild their lives.

As a movement we commit to continue to struggle for the freedom, anti-racism and human rights of around 150 Medevac refugees still imprisoned in Australia, including 11 in the Park Hotel in Melbourne and all people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia left to live without a safety net, legal rights to asylum or a permanent home.

Call David for more info on 0438 547 723

Contact details

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