Greens call for greater Launceston City Council support for refugee settlement

Monique Huyskens, Greens Candidate for the Launceston City Council elections, calls for greater support by Council for refugee settlement. The story of Launceston refugee, Olivia Boateng, being filmed on SBS tonight, highlights the struggles and adjustments of the refugee experience.

Ms Huyskens said, “A key way for local councils to offer support is to sign a declaration declaring that the council area is a Refugee Welcome Zone. This initiative, developed by the Refugee Council of Australia, allows councils to commit to welcoming refugees, to upholding the human rights of refugees, to demonstrating compassion, and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in our community”.

“To date, some 72 local councils around Australia, including the Hobart City Council, have declared themselves to be ‘Refugee Welcome Zones’.

“I feel very strongly about this issue from my own experience assisting Afghan refugees in the early years of their settlement, and through research undertaken with the University of Technology, Sydney into the settlement process of women refugees”.

“If elected to the Launceston City Council, I will advocate strongly for the Launceston municipality to become a Refugee Welcome Zone, and I feel that this is a very significant way that the community can show its support to those who have suffered terrible loss and persecution”.
Monique Huyskens