Voters reject fear and division, now it’s time to get to work

The election outcome over the weekend was a rejection of the politics of fear and division.

In his acceptance speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the importance of kindness. This must be more than a soundbite, it must be a mantra and a mandate, reflected in policy and rhetoric.

It’s time to get to work to deliver on fairness, compassion, and justice for people seeking asylum and refugees.

The Asylum Seekers Centre is calling on the Albanese government to deliver on fairness and justice for people seeking asylum by:

• Providing access to a more meaningful safety net for people while they undergo the protection visa application process, from expanding the financial support program to ensuring all people seeking asylum have the right to work and consistent Medicare access
• Resolving protracted protection cases and repairing fundamental flaws in the asylum system, including by offering people failed by the ‘fast track’ system a pathway to permanency
• Increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake
• Ending the cruel offshore detention regime for good and ensuring human rights are upheld for all

Asylum Seekers Centre CEO Frances Rush OAM said:

“Congratulations to Anthony Albanese and Labor on their election victory.

“When Labor entered government in 2022 the party pledged to reform Australia’s asylum system to make it ‘compassionate’ and ‘humane’ but often failed to deliver on these promises once in power. The next three years present another opportunity for the government to make good on this pledge.

“We look forward to working with the government and politicians across the next parliament to protect the rights of people seeking asylum and build a more welcoming, just society.”