My name is Bronwyn and I’m part of the Home to Bilo team (that’s me next to Priya, on the left).
Next week, Priya is making the long journey from Biloela to Canberra, with close friend Vashini and I. We’re coming to Parliament House at 11am next Tuesday, to stand with a coalition of refugee communities and advocacy groups - can you join us?
Let me explain why.
Back in 2014, when Scott Morrison was Immigration Minister, he made some big changes to our migration laws.
He introduced a system he called - ironically - "fast track". I personally believe this system was designed to fail people like Priya.
It meant Priya had just one chance to explain why Sri Lanka is such a dangerous place for her.
Her interview took place over the phone, via a remote interpreter in another location. At the time, Priya was eight months pregnant with little Kopika. She’d been in hospital with a migraine the day before.
As Priya explained when our #HometoBilo community came together on Zoom last week:
"The people who interviewed us had no idea, no knowledge about what has happened in Sri Lanka for Tamils."
It's easy to see how important details could have been missed.
Because of Scott Morrison's changes to our laws, the officials given the job of checking the decision didn’t have to speak to Priya. She wasn't allowed to give them any new information.
The same thing happened to thousands of people just like Priya, who came in search of peace and safety a decade ago.
The Albanese government has promised to create a new tribunal that can review future refugee decisions in a fair and proper way.
But this will still leave thousands of people failed by Scott Morrison’s system living in fear that they could be taken from their homes and forced to danger - even though they've lived as part of our communities for the last ten years.
That’s just one of the reasons Priya, Vashini and I are coming to Canberra next Tuesday, to stand with other refugees and people seeking asylum.
With hope,
Bronwyn
On behalf of the #HometoBilo team