Dear Friends,
You might have missed it, but late on Friday the federal Government dropped an announcement about their response to the crisis in Afghanistan, hoping to fool everyone that they were helping the people of Afghanistan.
The truth is the government offered nothing. No additional humanitarian visas for people fleeing the Taliban and no pathway to permanency for people from Afghanistan in Australia.
The Government’s inaction is despite a Senate Committee reviewing Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan recommending in its interim report the prioritisation of family reunification, providing pathways to permanent residency for all people from Afghanistan in Australia seeking protection, and noting calls for an additional 20,000 humanitarian places for people from Afghanistan.
We have welcomed this Senate report.
The war in Afghanistan was the longest war in our history. In that time, we made significant promises to the people of Afghanistan that included protection for persecuted groups and women.
The announcement by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday does not begin to recognise our relationship with the war, our moral obligation to the people of Afghanistan, and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan right now.
Over recent months Afghanistan has seen women activists and vulnerable groups such as the Hazara have been targeted and terrorised by the Taliban.
Lives have become increasingly difficult with the harsh winter forcing many to choose between warmth or food.
The Australian government cannot sit by and do nothing following the longest war in the country’s history.
Ever since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 the Afghanistan-Australian community has called for an additional intake of at least 20,000 humanitarian places.
But the government is instead trying spin over substance once again.
We can’t let them get away with it.
TAKE ACTION: Call Alex Hawke today
Yours in solidarity,
Arif and Batoor, for the #ActionForAfghanisatan campaign