Hobart locals to get loud for refugee human rights tomorrow

When: 5-6pm, Friday 4 November

What: Honk-a-thon: our team of volunteers, with bright signs and banners will ask Hobart residents to make some noise for human rights

Hobart residents will join together to raise their voices and horns to highlight the Australian Federal Government’s human rights abuses towards people seeking asylum.

The Amnesty International Tasmania Refugee Action group are holding a honk-a-thon on the corner of Murray and Macquarie streets, and are inviting people across Hobart to join in.

This week, the Prime Minister announced the Government would seek to rush through new laws that would prevent anyone who attempted to arrive in Australia by boat since 19 July, 2013, from ever setting foot in Australia.

“The Government’s latest proposal to ban people who have come to Australia by boat from ever entering the country has reached a new low. People in our community are horrified at this cruel response to people who are seeking our help to have safety and peace,” Co-convener of Amnesty’s Tasmanian Refugee Rights Group Carol Bristow said.

Amnesty volunteers across the world are increasing the pressure on the Australian Government to end off-shore detention, bring people on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia, and become a good neighbour, working with other nations to ensure people seeking help have safe pathways to apply for asylum. People across the world will be holding demonstrations in their countries to express outrage at Australia cruel approach to people seeking protection.

“The international community will not stand by and let this happen. Amnesty activists from around the world will continue to advocate for people who are in need of protection, we will not turn our backs on people at their darkest moments. If my family was fleeing war or persecution, I would ask for a chance to be safe and care for my family. Australia is better than this, and we have solutions we can implement right now. We want to increase the humanitarian intake to 30,000 each year, and do our fair share to help millions of people fleeing wars right now.”
Carol Bristow, Amnesty International Tasmania Refugee action group