Tassie Nannas Support Refugee Resettlement in Hobart

Media release – Tassie Nannas, 14 March 2022

Tassie Nannas welcome detainee release

· 9 men held in detention at the Park Hotel were released late Friday night.
· The Tassie Nannas had called on the Hobart City Council to advocate for their release and to invite them, as a Refugee Welcome Zone, to re-settle in Hobart, which was moved successfully on January 31st by Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Helen Burnet
· The men were flown to Australia over 2 years ago for medical treatment, and have had an unpredictable future.

The freeing of 9 of the Park Hotel detainees has been welcomed by the Tassie Nannas. The group recently worked with Cr Helen Burnet to ask for the release of these men held in the same hotel as tennis star Novak Djokovic was briefly detained. All men were held in offshore detention centres before being flown for medical treatment. Both the Tassie Nannas and Cr Burnet have called for their eventual resettlement in Hobart.

It is understood that most of the men who were released on Friday night received a six-month bridging visa with no access to welfare and little support. “Whilst the release from detention in a hotel is great news, it is now incumbent on the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, to free the rest. These young men must also be adequately supported and given a clearer view of their future.

Cr Helen Burnet who worked with the Tassie Nannas to move a successful motion to advocate for the Park Hotel detainees’ release, has collected pledges from locals to have the men settle in Hobart. “It is simply unacceptable to continue the uncertainty these men have faced for years. They should be settled in Australia, to become part of our community, to contribute to our economy, and to enrich our cities and towns.

“We have enough people who will open their homes and hearts to accommodate the remaining detainee asylum seekers. Those men already released are also warmly invited to call Hobart home,” she said.

Pauline Shelley from the Tassie Nannas agreed. “The Tassie Nannas have been buoyed by the generous responses to our advocacy for these people who have suffered way too long.

These men have a place in our community, and should have the certainty of permanent residency,” she concluded.