Send a letter to the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and your Local Member of Parliament. Stand in solidarity with recent statements asking for clemency and a humanitarian solution to the situation offshore for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
In a Statement released earlier this year by the NCCA and Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce, Faith Leaders called upon the Government to resolve the plight of the refugees still detained on Manus Island and Nauru. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia have also made similar statements.
As Catholics mark Migrant and Refugee Week 2019 on 19-25 August, Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) and Combined Refugee Action Group (CRAG) are encouraging us to ask our Political Leaders to show compassion to those trapped offshore. This is the perfect time to organise your congregation or parish community, group or organisation to speak out with a unified voice!
CRAG's template letter explains that Jubilee is a Biblical principle whereby people who have long been trapped in bleak circumstances are given a special dispensation for a new beginning.
To join in follow the steps below:
Step 1. Download the Jubilee letter template here. You can alter or adjust it however you would like!
Step 2. Approach your parish, school, faith community, social justice group or organisation to sign on to this letter. If none of these are applicable to you, you can send it just from yourself.
Step 3. Send your letter to each of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and your local Member of Parliament.
Step 4. Send a copy to both the Combined Refugee Action Group - Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post - C/- 127 Myers St, Geelong, Vic 3220; and CAPSA - Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post - PO Box 271, Richmond Vic 3121.This will enable CRAG and CASPA to keep a record of how many letters have been sent,
Postal addresses for your Jubilee letters are:
The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Anthony Albanese MP
Leader of the Australian Labor Party
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
[Your local MP] search for your local member's name here
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
There is no set time frame for this letter campaign; however the situation for those who are held in PNG and Nauru is now at a crisis point, please act as soon as you are able.
Migrant and Refugee Week 2019 - 19-25 August
Resources can be found on the Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office website. -click on the link for the "It's not just about migrants" kit
