Be a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’ at this election
March 25, 2025
The Institute’s Refugee Advocacy Network has urged Australians to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ by voting for candidates in the upcoming election who support a humane immigration policy. They have produced a flyer and have asked people to consider distributing it to their networks, so that awareness can be raised about the plight of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Be a Pilgrim of Hope at this Election
Compassionate Australians are encouraged to take up Pope Francis’ challenge to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. You can do this by supporting those candidates running in the Australian Federal election who favour a more humane immigration policy.
In this Jubilee year, Pope Francis has said that, ‘we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind’. He said that ‘Jesus is present in the sister or brother in need of our help’.
Pope Francis also has said, ‘the true common good is promoted when society and government…welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates the most fragile, unprotected and vulnerable’.
For too long many candidates and political parties from have sought to create a climate of fear which has removed and overlooked the humanity of people seeking refuge, making it easier to impose harsh and cruel policies on what are innocent people no different to us.
Many of our parliamentarians are happy to talk about ‘protecting our borders’ but have forgotten about ‘protecting our sisters and brothers’ who are in need.
A recent national poll by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre showed that most Australians want fairness and compassion for refugees and people seeking asylum. Most voters believe that Australia has a responsibility to accept refugees and people seeking asylum, and that refugees who have arrived in Australia should be treated fairly. Voters do not want people sent back to dangerous situations.
What can I do?
At this election you are invited to support those candidates who will pursue a compassionate and humanitarian response to refugees and people seeking asylum.
You can find out who these candidates are through the following steps –
1. Visiting the websites of organisations such as the Refugee Council of Australia and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre who will make announcements during the election and do a comparison of the policies of the major parties.
2. Writing to your local candidates or contacting their offices.
3. Speaking with your local candidates at an information booth or on election day.
What are some of the issues I can raise with candidates?
When speaking with the candidates you can ask them whether they support:
* People seeking asylum, currently living in Australia who arrived by boat after July 2013, being provided with a pathway to permanency.
After years of living in our communities and contributing to society, people should be given a secure future.
* Refugees and people seeking asylum being given an ongoing bridging visa with work and study rights, continuous Medicare coverage, affordable legal assistance and basic income support.
* A clear and transparent pathway being established so that people can engage in a process for gaining a permanent visa and regain hope.
* The resources of the Immigration section of the Department of Home Affairs being boosted so that processing of people left in limbo can occur.
* An end to offshore detention and processing.
Mercy Refugee Advocacy Network
institute@ismapng.org.au