Nikolic’s meeting. Tony’s grand new plan to turn back the boats

• Friday:

Update following this morning’s action, by Anne Layton-Bennett …

I was one of a group of Launceston women who visited the office of Andrew Nikolic this morning, our federal Liberal member for Bass, with some suitably worded sanitary products as per the initiative begun by Destroy the Joint in support of female asylum seekers. The following is the media release which encouraged a journalist and photographer from The Examiner to come along. We look forward to seeing a report and photos in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Although not in the office when we arrived, Mr Nikolic came in after a clerk had taken our contact details for a response, but other than wishing us a hurried (and harried) ‘Good morning’ he clearly wasn’t inclined to hear our concerns. A few moments later he reappeared only to rush out the door because he had ‘a meeting’.

However it must have been the shortest meeting in history given he returned no more than five minutes later, as we were outside chatting with a passer-by, but once again he obviously had no intention of meeting with us, and disappeared inside.

This is not the behaviour we expect from our federal political representative whose pre-election promise was ‘to represent everyone in Bass.’ Hmm, perhaps this was a non-core promise, or one that was only ever intended to be selective.

We shall see.

MEDIA RELEASE – 10 January 2014

The Launceston Sisterhood

In support of the insanitary plight of female asylum seekers

Following reports in the mainstream media that female asylum seekers who are having their period are obliged to undergo the humiliation of requesting a tampon or sanitary pad each time they need one, a group of Launceston women will deliver a supply of these essential items on Friday 10th January at 10 am to the St John Street office of the federal member for Bass, Andrew Nikolic.

“We’re appalled by the Liberal Government’s offensive and degrading attitude towards already vulnerable women by the Abbott government. Clearly neither Minister for Immigration Scott Morrison nor his federal colleagues have any concept or understanding of how embarrassing and humiliating an experience it must be for a menstruating woman to have to stand in a queue to request a tampon,” said spokesperson Bev Ernst.

In support of the initiative first instigated by social media group Destroy the Joint, the women – who have dubbed themselves The Launceston Sisterhood – hope their action will help highlight the plight of female asylum seekers by presenting Mr Nikolic with tampons and sanitary pads that carry messages of support and solidarity.

“This is a situation that every woman in the world can identify with because no matter our creed or colour we all share the same biology. In apparently condoning this requirement for female asylum seekers to ask for tampons each time they need one suggests our government lacks common decency, or any respect for women,” said Ms Ernst.

References:
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/monthly-reminder-to-minister-scott-morrison-will-help-end-humiliation-of-asylum-seeker-women-20140106-30db2.html
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/tampons-that-send-a-powerful-political-message

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead (1902-1978); Cultural Anthropologist

• Tuesday:

Asylum seekers intercepted on unseaworthy boats could be sent back to Indonesia on large, engine-powered lifeboats in an escalation of the Abbott government’s “turn-back” policy.

As Indonesia again voiced its condemnation after the Royal Australian Navy was understood to have turned at least one boat back in recent weeks, Fairfax Media has learnt the government is poised to buy between eight and 16 of the hard-hulled lifeboats from overseas.

Defence sources said the lifeboats, similar to those carried by cruiseships and oil tankers, would be available as form of the turn-back policy, when the Navy or Customs stopped an asylum-seeker boat that was unseaworthy.

One of the key objections to turn-backs is that asylum-seekers would sabotage their own boats, leaving Australian border protection authorities no choice but to rescue them.

Instead, asylum-seekers would be transferred on to the lifeboats close to Indonesian waters with fuel and supplies to reach land. The high-visibility, engine-powered lifeboats, which have roofs, can carry dozens of passengers, and food and water for at least a week.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the purchase of the lifeboats.

The Abbott government also maintained its silence over claims that Australia had turned back at least one asylum-seeker boat to Indonesia in recent weeks, in a move that has the potential to increase tensions between the two countries.

A Defence source confirmed to Fairfax Media reports in the Indonesian press that a boat had been turned back.

The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart carried out the turn-back in the past week. The asylum-seekers aboard the boat were given life-jackets and communications equipment before being directed to the nearest land, which was Indonesia, the source said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/government-mulls-lifeboats-plan-for-intercepted-asylum-seekers-20140107-30f8v.html#ixzz2phH88Aqt

• Monday on Tasmanian Times, Max Atkinson: Justification and excuse

• Liberal MP Warren Entsch attacks Corey Bernardi on gay obsession