African Refugees Need Support Not Vilification
Friday, 5 October 2007
The decision of Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews to slash Australia’s refugee intake from Africa from 70 percent in 2004-05 to 30 percent this year has angered Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes, a NSW Upper-House Member and one of Australia’s most respected Christian leaders . Minister Kevin Andrews said poor integration was the reason for slashing Australia’s African refugee intake.
“I am deeply concerned and disappointed by the Federal Government’s decision to cut the quota of Africans into Australia under the humanitarian refugee program. Refugees from any particular country need support, not vilification. Refugees from Africa have been traumatised by ongoing civil wars, religious and ethnic conflict and persecution, as well as ongoing poverty and starvation”, Dr. Moyes, a long-time campaigner and advocate of refugees, said.
According to Minister Andrews, African refugees face discrimination, language barriers, poor job opportunities, lack of support, thereby, making it harder for them to integrate. Discrimination on religious grounds and in the workplace was a common problem facing new Somali and Sudanese refugees in Australia.
As the former Superintendent of Wesley Mission Sydney, Rev. Dr Moyes believes that we must support refugees, whether Christians or not, and not demonise and run a smear campaign against them. Dr Moyes said, “I am a committed Christian. But I don’t have the right to say that we should only open our doors to Christian refugees. Australia must not close the door on these people. We must help those who are persecuted, raped, tortured, and starved”.
Dr. Moyes said, “Sudan has been the scene of one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters stemming from the conflict in the Darfur region. We cannot turn our backs to these people. If we do, what kind of example are we showing to the world. Australia must act like the Good Samaritan and help these refugees find the way to restore their lives”.
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