Email your local councillor: No business with Wilson Security

29 April 2016

Buddies member Al Spierings has written to his local councillor, suggesting – in light of Wilson Security’s ongoing service provision to Australia’s offshore detention centres and to recent claims linking the company to massive tax avoidance – that the Sunshine Coast Council should reconsider its current contracts with this corporate security provider. (see background article here)

Al has received an encouraging response and has suggested that other Buddies members might like to write to their local councillors as well. The more residents who voice their concerns, the greater the impact we will have!

From: Allan Spierings 

Date: 11 April  

To: Cr Jenny McKay

Subject: Wilson Security

Hi Jenny,

You will be aware of a recent ABC TV program concerning tax evasion by companies registered in Panama. Wilson Security was one of the companies named in that program.

   I believe that Wilson Security holds a contract with council to provide security services.  It also holds a number of contracts with the federal government, including the provision of services in the offshore detention centres of Manus Island and Nauru.

   Considering the allegations of tax evasion by Wilson Security in that TV program can you advise please what council intends to do in respect of any contracts that it holds with Wilson Security.

Kind regards, Allan Spierings

From: Cr Jenny McKay 

Sent: 19 April 

To: Allan Spierings

Subject: Re: Wilson Security

Many thanks for bringing this to my attention Allan.

   I have taken the liberty of forwarding your email to the CEO so that his office can investigate and take the appropriate action.

   If you have any queries, please contact me.

Regards, Jenny

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Send a message of thanks to our state leaders

12 February 2016

Five state leaders have indicated their willingness to take in the children and adults who are facing being returned to Nauru. This is the political leadership we have been waiting for.

   Send a message – and /or call – to let these leaders know you fully support their action in standing up for human rights and challenging the cruel and abusive approach of the Federal Government on this matter.

VIC Premier, Daniel Andrews (03) 9651 5000

ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr (02) 6205 0011

NSW Premier, Mike Baird (02) 8574 5000

QLD Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk (07) 3719 7000

SA Premier, Jay Weatherill  (08) 8463 3166

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Email to send: Update – Please support the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa!

8 January 2016

The Queensland Government is yet to decide whether or not it will sign up to the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa program. A recent email from the Premier's office suggests the government is still gauging the level of public interest in the scheme. 

   Please write to your local state member and urge the Government to sign up to the program, so that asylum seekers who apply for a SHEV can work or study in regional areas in Queensland.

List of parliamentarians here

Dear ...

People who are living in Queensland and seeking asylum are now eligible to apply for Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) instead of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).

   SHEVs have some advantages over TPVs not the least of which is the stability of the 5 year visa, (the TPV is only 3 years).

   Regional leaders and the community sector have welcomed SHEVs. New South Wales and Tasmania have already said YES to SHEVs.

   Please can we do the same, and make SHEVs applicable right across Queensland?

Kind regards ...

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Letter to send: Please support the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa!

4 December 2015

There is currently a window of opportunity to influence key decision-makers regarding the future of people seeking asylum in Brisbane. They are now eligible to apply for Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) instead of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). This would grant a further two years residency.

    We need the Queensland Government to make SHEVs applicable across the state. Send your message to the Minister for Communities, Shannon Fentiman Shannon.Fentiman@parliament.qld.gov.au – or use the following text:

Dear Minister Fentiman

People who are living in Queensland and seeking asylum are now eligible to apply for Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs) instead of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).

   SHEVs have some advantages over TPVs not the least of which is the stability of the 5 year visa, (the TPV is only 3 years).

Regional leaders and the community sector have welcomed SHEVs.    New South Wales and Tasmania have already said YES to SHEVs.

   Please can we do the same, and make SHEVs applicable right across Queensland?

Kind regards ...

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Call Mr Turnbull now!

27 November 2015

On Monday the Senate passed amendments to the Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill 2015 which required the 112 children locked up in on shore detention centres to be released into the community by Christmas. But we can’t celebrate yet. 

   These crucial amendments have conditions; they must be passed by the House of Representatives, where the Coalition have the balance of power and they have a 30 day deadline.

   It’s time to put pressure on Mr Turnbull to hold to his word that ‘one child in detention is one child too many’. Now is the time to turn this concern into action, to give children the freedom they deserve.

Call Mr Turnbull now and tell him that he must support the Senate amendments and release all children from detention by Christmas.

MORE INFO

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Phone the PM campaign: “Give them a Home”

Buddies, 2 October 2015

We urge all Buddies members to join our Phone the PM campaign.

   It was public pressure that brought about the decision to accept 12,000 Syrian refugees. Let’s keep this pressure building. Please call the PM’s office (02) 6277 7700 and leave your message/s for him.

• Close Manus and Nauru and bring the asylum seekers there to the Australian mainland.

• Give permanent protection to the 30,000 asylum seekers living in limbo in the Australian community.

• End the unfairness of offering permanent protection to some Syrian refugees, while at the same time consigning others (who are escaping the same war) to indefinite offshore detention.

•  

   Our new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has already conceded on ABC radio that he shares the public’s concern about offshore processing. Let’s phone his office and let his staff know that there is strong support around the country for a more compassionate response.

  Do it now and do it often! Ring Peter Dutton’s office (02) 6277 7786 and Julie Bishop’s too (02) 6277 7500.

Many thanks, Val Ross 5476 8645

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Email to send:

No business in abuse

GetUp, 2 October 2015

It’s working! Transfield are deleting all critical comments from the public on their Facebook page! They’re clearly spooked – email them right now so they know we’re watching them.

MORE INFO

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Email to send:

Nazanin’s condition deteriorates

Lena Hattom, Change.org, 9 September 2015

The Australian government may have acted to fly Nazanin out of Nauru, but their abusive treatment of her and her family continues. 

Please contact Peter Dutton’s office and ask that Nazanin’s family be flown to Brisbane to help her rehabilitate from her trauma and surgery AND that she be permanently resettled in Australia.

Peter Dutton  (02) 6277 7860, (07) 3205 9977