Our assessment task was to select an ongoing issue in Australia of our choice and research around the topic to find the key issues which we would then present in the form of a letter addressed to our local MP. My chosen issue was the poor treatment of asylum seekers. I chose this topic because everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and it is not acknowledged enough the rights that they are robbed of. Written below is my letter.
Sampreeti Mitra
All Saints’ College
Ewing Avenue
Bull Creek WA 6149
Mr. Matt Keogh MP
PO Box 465
Kelmscott, WA, 6991
12th May 2022
Dear Mr. Matt Keogh,
I, a Year 8 student and residential member of Burt, write you to address a concern that has recently been highlighted to me. Australia’s treatment towards Asylum seekers is an area that needs much improvement.
Unfortunately, 84% of Asylum seekers arriving in Australia looking for a home are rejected on the first instance. Currently, over thousands of Asylum seekers and some recognised refugees have been forced into immigration detention centres across Australia, instead of being welcomed into the country after fleeing another as a political refugee. The decision to discriminate against asylum seekers even goes against the publics views. According to a recent study performed by “https://refugeeresearchonline.org/public-attitudes-towards-asylum-seekers-and-refugees/ “, 36% of respondents feel positively towards asylum seekers and 44% feel neutral or have no specific views.
Despite these shocking numbers, Asylum seekers continue to receive compromised rights and restricted freedoms in Australia. However, we are still a step closer to change in having officially allowed asylum seekers to find employment and receive career support in Australia, and although they still face struggle being accepted into jobs, every change makes a difference.
Before I begin on how we can begin change and justice for asylum seekers, I would like to share some more of the severe struggles that asylum seekers face. In Australia, to have even a chance of being accepted, asylum seekers must present an official visa. The problem with this is that it is many asylum seekers don’t have access to a visa or may not even know what it is. It is for this reason that many cannot even apply to be accepted. Those who are accepted still face a lot of adversity. They struggle with employment, affordable housing, supporting families, language and communication barriers, lack of family reunification, racism and discrimination, learning English and much more. The stress of simply surviving has driving hundreds of thousands of asylum world-wide to result to suicide, and if not, their mental health is likely in a detrimental state. There are little to no organizations that support asylum seekers, the few that even promote helping immigrants go toward refugees, and asylum seekers are once again left out. Both equally deserving of beneficial change, neither of them receive it. This alone is reason enough to change what the current laws in Australia are today, and how they affect asylum seekers.
Asylum seekers that arrive via boat in Australia are not allowed to stay in Australia, in spite of it being most asylum seeker’s only option. This heavily restricts asylum seekers range of transportation methods, which is already very limited.
“Australia has obligations to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of how or where they arrive and whether they arrive with or without a visa.” The Australian Human Rights Commission writes; proof that the continuing deluded act of prejudice and bigotry against asylum seekers and refugees must come to an end. Asylum seekers and refugees are just as deserving of their rights as anyone else, and offering them otherwise is a direct act of discrimination.
My proposal is to change the overlooked unjust treatment of asylum seekers and stand up for what is right by establishing new laws that represent the equality that is lacking today. This may including enforcing the following: Allowing asylum seekers to arrive without visas but with other more accessible credentials, creating organizations, support centres and shelters that accommodate to asylum seekers, promoting equality for asylum seekers through protesting and sharing the message online, creating facilities where asylum seekers can gain job experience and education for future careers and many more ideas that are offered in which they would benefit. I hope to one day see the change in discrimination and poor treatment towards asylum seekers, and that the first big step is made soon.
Sincerely,
Sampreeti Mitra