BuddiesSupporting refugees

ABOUT BUDDIESThe Buddies Refugee Support Group is a Sunshine Coast group which advocates for just and compassionate treatment of refugees, consistent with the human rights standards which Australia has developed and endorsed.We support policies towards refugees and asylum seekers that reflect respect, decency and traditional

Australian generosity to those in need, while advancing Australia’s international standing and national interests.We are an independent community group and meet on the 4th Sunday of each month at 11am, 24 King Street Buderim.ConfidentialityYour email address is completely confidential. The Bulletin is sent Bcc [Blind carbon copy] and no-one else sees your email address.

www.refugeebuddies.org.au

BuddiesSupporting refugees

To contribute to BuddiesEvery cent goes to asylum seeker or refugee support. You can direct debit to: SUNCORP BANK, BSB 484-799ACCOUNT NO: 605927994ACCOUNT NAME: BUDDIES REFUGEE SUPPORT GROUPOr you can contribute at each meeting to “The Box”. Your donations are very greatly appreciated by those we help.

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/11/indonesia-could-release-human-tsunami-of-10000-asylum-seekers-on-australia

FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2015

buddies bulletin

Indonesia ‘could release 10,000

asylum seekers on Australia’

Ben Doherty The Guardian

11 March 2015

An Indonesian police officer watches a fishing boat carrying asylum seekers.

Indonesia could release a “human tsunami” of 10,000 asylum seekers on Australia if Canberra continues to agitate for clemency for the death row pair Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, an Indonesian minister has warned.

Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, the coordinating minister for political legal and security affairs, reminded the Abbott government that Indonesian cooperation was vital to the success of its “stop the boats” policy.

“If Canberra keeps doing things that displease Indonesia, Jakarta will surely let the illegal immigrants go to Australia,” he said.

Tedjo is a former chief of staff of the Indonesian navy and has intimate knowledge of Indonesia’s efforts to stop asylum seeker boats. He has previously advocated isolating asylum seekers on a remote island in the archipelago nation.

The minister said Australia should respect Indonesia’s legal system and called the prisoner swap, proposed by Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, as a last-ditch attempt to save the Australian men’s lives, “unethical”.

Tedjo also said Indonesia was not worried by the threat of sanctions or trade restrictions. “Australia will in fact receive pressure domestically if it stops its livestock exports to Indonesia, since Indonesia is Australia’s main market.”

The conflation of the issue of asylum seekers with the execution of the Bali Nine drug smugglers is difficult diplomatic territory for Australia, which relies heavily on the cooperation – or at least the tacit acquiescence – of neighbouring countries to enforce its “stop the boats” policy.

Australia’s turnback policy is deeply resented by many in the republic’s government.

what’s on

BUDDIES BULLETIN, 13 MARCH 2015

For your DIARY...

Saturday 21 March, 2:30-6pmHarmony Day: Colourfest Film Festival and Multicultural Living Library. Nambour Civic Centre,

Centenary Square, Currie St, Nambour (see right)

Sunday 22 March, 11amBuddies meeting, 24 King St, BuderimChairperson: Garry Bates gfbcons@bigpond.net.au 5445 1710

Sunday 22 March, 3pmBuddies Fundraiser, Brisbane Symphony Orchestra Concert (see below right)

Tuesday 24 March, 4-6pmBuddies Immigration Support Group meeting467 Diddillibah Rd, Diddillibah fergfitzgerald7@gmail.com 0458 880572

Sunday 29 March, 12 noonPalm Sunday Rally: Declare Peace on RefugeesKing George Square, 266 George St, Brisbane

Thursday 9 April, 3pmLobby Group meeting26 Rita Court, Tanawha belz@squirrel.com.au 5445 3727

Sunday 26 April, 11amBuddies meeting, 24 King St, Buderim

Thursday 7 May, 10am-1pmUSC BBQ picnic – Botanical Gardens, Tanawha. Details in future bulletins.

THIS WEEK’S ATTACHMENTS

– February 2015 Finance report– Incorporation summary

FUNDRAISING AT THE BRISBANE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERTSunday 22nd March at 3pm (same day as Buddies’ meeting)Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsman’s Parade, Bokarina Once again, the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra has offered us a fund-raising opportunity providing afternoon tea at their up-coming concert (an excellent programme which is creating strong bookings, so we could do well!!!)

I need some volunteers to make sandwiches and/or sweet or savoury slices. These I could collect on Saturday 21st or they could be brought to the Buddies meeting for collection.

Several members have already indicated that they will help with plating-up from 2pm, but a couple more would be sensational!

If you could help, please contact me on 54727209 or email to snogs@tpg.com.au

Much thanks, Kendall Snowden

&Colourfest Film FestivalMulticultural Living Library

2:30 – 3:00pm Event opening and welcome

3:00 – 4:15pm Colourfest screeningColourfest celebrates Harmony Day by offering a selection of diverse Australian short films.The films focus on social inclusion and identity, and are designed for a family audience.

4:15 – 5:00pm Afternoon tea provided

5:00 – 6:00pm Multicultural Living LibraryPeople from multicultural backgrounds will share their stories, hear their experiences of living in Australiaand broaden your understandings of cultural differences.

21 March at Nambour Civic Centre, Centenary Square Currie Street

This is a free community event hosted by the Sunshine Coast Multicultural Network Group Visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/ and search Harmony Day Sunshine Coast to book tickets

You are invited to wear traditional dress or something orange to support Harmony Day

PM becomes asylum seeker in paranormal short film TurnbackAlkira Reinfrank and Elise Pianegonda ABC News Online, 7 March 2015A short film in which an Australian prime minister has an out-of-body experience as an asylum seeker in detention has won the annual Lights Canberra Action festival. The film, Turnback, and its director Hew Sandison took out the award for best film. He said his winning entry was one of the more politically driven entries. “It’s a little drama that sees a PM of Australia in his Commonwealth car when it gets hijacked by some assailants who hook him up to a machine that transfers him into the mind of an asylum seeker in a detention centre,” Mr Sandison said.

WEBhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-07/pm-becomes-asylum-seeker-in-paranormal-short-film-turnback/6285962

Saturday 21 March, 2.30–6pm, Nambour Civic Centre, Centenary Square Currie Street NambourYou are invited to wear traditional dress or something orange to support Harmony DayTo book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/ and search Harmony Day Sunshine Coast

&Colourfest Film FestivalMulticultural Living Library

2:30 – 3:00pm Event opening and welcome

3:00 – 4:15pm Colourfest screeningColourfest celebrates Harmony Day by offering a selection of diverse Australian short films.The films focus on social inclusion and identity, and are designed for a family audience.

4:15 – 5:00pm Afternoon tea provided

5:00 – 6:00pm Multicultural Living LibraryPeople from multicultural backgrounds will share their stories, hear their experiences of living in Australiaand broaden your understandings of cultural differences.

21 March at Nambour Civic Centre, Centenary Square Currie Street

This is a free community event hosted by the Sunshine Coast Multicultural Network Group Visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/ and search Harmony Day Sunshine Coast to book tickets

You are invited to wear traditional dress or something orange to support Harmony Day

PROPOSED MUSICAL VARIETY SHOWCarmel Dobson (Buddies member since 2012)I have offered to stage a fundraising musical variety show which I’m prepared to co-ordinate with interested Buddies members. The event is proposed as a joint fundraiser for Buddies and for a Palestinian family who were forced to leave Gaza and are now living precariously in Cairo, Egypt.

I’m giving Buddies members who didn’t attend the February Buddies meeting the opportunity to express their thoughts about this joint fundraising event. If there are any objections, please let me know by the end of next week. If none are forthcoming, I will proceed to arrange venue, date and time, entertainers etc. I have some ideas and plans ready to go, but am still on the lookout for entertainers who can play or sing, either individually or in groups large or small. I am also looking for a few more Buddies to join a small organising group. If you have questions or ideas to put forward, could you please contact me at cmaryd@hotmail.com 0457 140 696.

Many thanks, Carmel WEB: (Recent photos of a Gaza neighbourhood destroyed by airstrikes)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2899567/Palestinian-boys-girls-play-debris-Gaza-City-neighbourhood-houses-destroyed-airstrikes.html

ACCOMMODATIONThe Harrington Court unit in Buderim, which has very generously been let to asylum seekers by owner and Buddies member Heather Johnston, is now no longer available as Heather needs it for her son. A huge thank you to Heather for her generosity! And also to Buddies member George McCallan who has worked tirelessly to facilitate the success of this arrangement.

Our Sri Lankan asylum seeker friends Jeeva and Anton will now be relocating. Jeeva is returning to Brisbane, but Anton would really like to continue living on the Sunshine Coast. If you know of accommodation which may be suitable for Anton, please contact Garry and Carolyn Bates gfbcons@bigpond.net.au 5445 1710. Anton has furniture and is able to pay around $100 per week.

Mother and son reunitedABC News Online. 24 February 2015Saacid Yousef Elmi has been living alone in Kenya’s Daadad refugee camp for 23 years. In January 2015, he was reunited with his mother, Darwin woman Fatuma Ahmed Ali.

WEBhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-24/fatuma-reunion/6231166

TO OUR WONDERFUL KNITTERSA big thank-you goes out to Faye Laurie and the ladies from the Caboolture Uniting Church and to Kendall Snowden and the Nambour hospital knitters for the latest batch

of teddies (pictured) which Buddies has recently delivered to Teddy Bears without Borders. The group is still collecting teddy bears, so no need to put away the wool and needles just yet!

https://www.facebook.com/teddybearswithoutborders

https://teddybearswithoutborders.wordpress.com

FROM CHANELLEChanelle, an asylum seeker friend of Buddies, living in Caloundra, is close to completing a short book of poems. We put out a call to see if any Buddies members

might be interested in helping with the proofreading.

Ruth Simon has volunteered her services and John Brinnand and John Ennis, who both write poems themselves, have also offered to read some of Chanelle’s poems. Chanelle is very grateful and is looking forward to sharing her finished work.

BUDDIES BULLETIN, 13 MARCH 2015 • 3

BUDDIES BULLETIN, 13 MARCH 2015 • 4

PETITION TO SIGN: DON’T GROUND OUR FREEDOM OF OPINION: PLEASE LIFT THIS UNFAIR NO-FLY BANIain Murray, Change.org, 10 March 2015

On 2 February, a 53-year-old business traveller, Paul Leary, asked to leave a Qantas flight after learning that the plane would be carrying an asylum seeker from Melbourne to Darwin, for deportation to Sri Lanka.

According to refugee advocates, the asylum seeker feared torture if deported to Sri Lanka. Mr Leary left the plane to support his colleague, who felt uncomfortable flying under these circumstances.

Now Qantas has banned Mr Leary from flying until further notice, saying that his actions were “unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Qantas or Jetstar Group”.

Let’s tell Qantas to respect our freedom of opinion and lift their ban on Mr Leary and his colleague. Please sign our petition – and also send off our letter of objection to Qantas executives.

WEBhttps://www.change.org/p/qantas-don-t-ground-our-freedom-of-opinion-lift-this-unfair-no-fly-ban?

PETITION UPDATE

https://www.change.org/p/qantas-don-t-ground-our-freedom-of-opinion-lift-this-unfair-no-fly-ban/u/9975231

Wooden boats for asylum seekers raise legal challengeBen Doherty The Guardian, 6 March 2015Australia’s multimillion-dollar deal to build boats in Vietnam in which to return asylum seekers to the countries they have left could raise new legal challenges to its controversial forcible return policy.

Daniel Webb of the Human Rights Law Centre said a government primarily concerned with safety at sea would not put people on ‘fishing boats’ in the middle of the ocean. “The high court has made clear that there are important limits on the government’s maritime powers. In particular, it can’t offload asylum seekers in an unsafe place. There’d be serious questions about the lawfulness of dumping people on to the decks of these fishing boats in the middle of the ocean.”

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/06/australia-wooden-boats-asylum-seekers-legal-challenge

Melbourne airport protest stops another forced transferOliver Milman and Ben Doherty The Guardian, 10 March 2015An airport protest has stopped the forced removal of an asylum seeker, in the fourth incident of its kind since December. A 19-year-old Tamil man who had been living in the community in Melbourne was re-detained a week ago, and was scheduled to be moved to Darwin on Tuesday morning ahead of his expected deportation to Colombo.

At Melbourne airport, the man locked himself in a toilet and refused to come out for two hours. At least one refugee advocate had boarded the plane, planning to protest the man’s removal.

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/10/protest-at-melbourne-airport-stops-forced-transfer-of-tamil-asylum-seeker

Qantas bans protesters who disrupted asylum seeker transferSally Brooks ABC News Online, 6 March 2015A Melbourne university student who staged a protest on a Qantas flight over the transfer of a Tamil asylum seeker has been temporarily banned from the airline and asked to attend an interview with the AFP.

On February 2 Jasmine Pilbrow, 21, staged a protest at Melbourne Airport amid fears an asylum seeker on board would be deported once the plane arrived in Darwin. The asylum seeker was being transferred from Victoria to a Darwin detention centre. Two other passengers also chose to get off the plane in protest.

WEBhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-06/qantas-bans-passengers-protest-tamil-asylum-seeker-transfer/6286614

BUDDIES BULLETIN, 13 MARCH 2015 • 5

UN accuses Australia of violating torture conventionBen Doherty and Daniel Hurst The Guardian, 9 March 2015Australia is systematically violating the international Convention Against Torture by detaining children in immigration detention and holding asylum seekers in dangerous and violent conditions on Manus Island, a report by UN special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, has found. PM Abbott has reacted angrily to the scathing findings, saying Australians were “sick of being lectured to by the UN”.

The section on Australia is concerned entirely with the treatment of asylum seekers.

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/09/un-reports-australias-immigration-detention-breaches-torture-conventionContributed by Diana Woolley

Goodwill letters to Nauru asylum seekers returned unopenedRichard Ackland The Guardian, 10 March 2015Thousands of goodwill letters sent by Australians to immigration detainees held on Nauru have been returned. The letters of comfort and support were organised by the barrister Julian Burnside. He did the same in 2001 after asylum seekers on the Tampa were detained for long periods.

Last year, with the support of advocacy and social justice groups, he organised for almost 2,000 letters from Australians to be sent to detainees on Nauru. A similar number were sent to people at the processing centre on Manus Island. The letters were directed to people whose identity and boat number are known to Burnside. Each letter contained a self-addressed stamped envelope so the detainees could reply to the sender if they wished.

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/10/goodwill-letters-to-asylum-seekers-on-nauru-returned-unopenedContributed by Diana Woolley

UN is trusting ‘absolutely bizarre’ claims of activists, Abbott saysDaniel Hurst and Ben Doherty The Guardian, 11 March 2015Tony Abbott has accused the United Nations of trusting the claims of “the usual human rights activists” to make “absolutely bizarre” findings about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. The prime minister said the UN special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, “didn’t bother getting a proper response from the Australian government” – even though the findings published on Monday referred to correspondence with the government and the inadequacy of the official responses.

WEBhttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/11/un-is-trusting-absolutely-bizarre-claims-of-asylum-seeker-activists-abbott-says

Tony Abbott is a bully over UN Convention Against Torture

Julian Burnside Sydney Morning Herald, 10 March 2015A UN report says Australia is in breach of the UN Convention Against Torture because of aspects of its treatment of refugees. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has attacked the UN for that criticism. It is true to his form.

In the past weeks we have watched Abbott and his senior colleagues attack Professor Gillian Triggs for her report about children

in immigration detention. Mr Abbott is a bully. He knows he cannot contradict the contents of Professor Triggs’ report or the UN report, so instead of denying the message, he attacks the messenger. Bullying is an ugly thing. It is regrettable in the schoolyard; it is despicable in a national leader. We have seen it before, in leaders whose names are reviled in history.

WEBhttp://www.smh.com.au/comment/tony-abbott-is-a-bully-over-un-convention-against-torture-20150309-13zk4s.html

BUDDIES BULLETIN, 13 MARCH 2015 • 6

Minutes of Buddies meeting, Sunday 22 FebruaryChairperson: Val Ross Note taker: Brenda Smith Apologies: Terry Boyce, Fergus Fitzgerald, Lindel Greggery, Jenny Hughes, , Lex McCarthy, Pat Shannon, Margaret Landbeck. Also Suzanne and Francis (sorry, no surnames)

Val welcomed all to the February meeting, especially the newcomers, to whom she explained the format of the monthly meetings e.g. agenda, donation box, bringing food to share for lunch etc.

Incorporation: Garry BatesGarry introduced the topic of incorporation “as a reflection of our regulated society, one of the reasons why our stability, processes and freedoms appealed to asylum seekers around the world despite our collective misgivings about recent Governments policies towards them”. He explained that his role was to present legal information Buddies member Terry Boyce had sought from Alan Clarke, Associate of Butler McDermott Lawyers. He reiterated the statement from Fergus in the previous Bulletin: “It is proposed to give all members of Buddies an opportunity to be fully informed on the pros and cons of being incorporated, as well as to vote on this, by proxy if necessary.”

Garry provided a number of instigators which could result in claims for damage: Change in legislation in regards to banking laws which has resulted in Audrey and Fergus as holders of the Buddies Bank Account. Audrey advised the group that she would stand down from this position if incorporation was not accepted. Other instigators are the types of activities Buddies members perform such as Learn English Holiday & training and events which could be subject to WH&S risks. Areas where members offer migration advice which is either misinterpreted, or is incorrect, may also be exposed to claims.

He proceeded through Terry’s summary (attached) regarding potential liability, suggested remedies, costs and procedure.

A few issues were raised such as Incorporation by Association, rather than Incorporation by Guarantee, and responsibilities that will need to be shared.

A vote was requested as to whether the discussion of incorporation and vote should be by special meeting. The consensus was that a meeting adjunct to and following the next Buddies meeting was preferred.

Learn English Holiday: Kayla SzumerThe Learn English Holiday is now in its 4th year. The next one is planned for 8th – 13th March and includes 4 new homestay hosts. Thank you to all those participating.

Lobby Group: Bronwyn BellBronwyn explained that the scheduled meeting was cancelled due to bad weather. She explained to newcomers that the lobby group meets every two months and new members are always welcome.

Val reminded the group of Mal Brough’s comment about receiving standard letters and suggested members adapt letters with their own wording.

Finance Group: Audrey RaymondAudrey spoke to the group about the current financial situation of Buddies. Her report is attached.

Denise Williams spoke to the group about assisting Caloundra asylum seeker, Chanelle McKenna with a donation of $499.00 to allow her to do an on-line course in editing and proofreading. The group voted to donate the money.

Young Buddies: Anneliese BroadawayYoung Buddies member, Ine Dambo is currently liaising with Chris Davies at the BITA detention centre to organise a sports and leisure program that Young Buddies members will help implement at the centre on weekends.

Quinn Kerr is setting up a Young Buddies table at the Refugee Welfare and Advocacy Conference held Saturday 7th March at QUT Gardens Point.

Fundraiser: Carmel DobsonCarmel would like to hold a musical concert. Her reason for approaching Buddies is two-fold – she has Palestinian friends now in Cairo who fled Gaza and are in desperate need of money for rent, etc. With Buddies’ assistance she would like to organise a musical event which will raise money for her friends and for Buddies. She has had experience in organising other events and has contacts in the entertainment industry. If you would like to be part of this venture, please contact Carmel. (see page 3)

Other business Rada Van Der Werff spoke of an upcoming community event called “Let’s get together” to be held in the Cooroy Memorial Hall on Saturday 7th March. Rada and Margaret Norman are setting up a Buddies info table at the event.

Feedback about our refugee friends was provided by Val and Garry. Issues such as the problems of obtaining blue cards and work for our friends was discussed. Recommendations of approaching clubs to obtain a blue card was put forward.

Kendall Snowden spoke of a forthcoming fundraiser for Buddies. The Brisbane Symphony Orchestra is holding a Beethoven concert on March 22nd at the Lake Kawana Community centre. Buddies will provide the afternoon tea. (see page 2)

Next meeting: Sunday 22 March, Chairperson - Garry Bates, note taker - Denise Williams