The Lismore office of the Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, will be the site of a rally this week to protest the passing of the new Migration Amendment Bill.
The rally is taking place at 4pm on Thursday 24 June. It has been organised by Amnesty International’s Lismore Group, and is being supported by Ballina Region for Refugees (BR4R), who are urging concerned citizens to protest against the bipartisan passing of the new bill, which they say ‘allows our government to keep refugees in detention for the rest of their lives’.
Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who spoke against the revised Migration Amendment Bill in parliament, has described it as ‘a crime against humanity’.
On social media BR4R said, ‘This is going to be a big rally – outside Kevin Hogan’s office in Lismore in Refugee Week. Come on Aussie, this just isn’t on! Please stand up and be counted.
‘In the 1930s it was Jews who were persecuted, the insidious evil of Hitler and his ilk penetrating Germany so slowly that most citizens didn’t notice until they had so much power that it was impossible to push back.
‘Is the same sort of thing happening in Australia? We can’t let our country turn into a cold, heartless place where people in need are persecuted rather than helped.’
Donor thanked
In other BR4R news, a group of members this week met the generous, no longer anonymous donor who gifted $10,000 to the group recently.
Kate Doyle wanted to support a good cause, and her friend Sue Eaton of East Ballina Lions suggested Ballina Region for Refugees.
The Lions Club have had a long association with BR4R through the organisation’s monthly Ballina market stall.
This earlier story explains where the money will be going, and who it will be helping.
