Media Release
Embargo 00:01 Wednesday 26th November 2014
An Unprecedented “True” Australian Voice
In an Australian first today (Wednesday 26th November 2014), a group of over 30 high
profile Australians literally lent their voices to a new movement asking the Australian
Government to do better than it is currently doing when it comes to caring for children
seeking refuge in Australia.
Led by actor Bryan Brown, the group includes well known Australians such as: authors Tom
Keneally and Rosie Scott; actors Claudia Karvan, Rebecca Gibney, Marta Dusseldorp and
Deborah Mailman; activists and political commentators Gail Mabo and Bruce Haigh;
sporting legends George Gregan and Ian Chappell; business leaders Janet Holmes á Court,
Ita Buttrose, Mark Carnegie and Peter V’lanyds; religious leaders Bishop Peter Comensoli
and Reverend Myung Hwa Park; and musicians John Williamson, Glen Shorrock, Marcus
Corowa, Mahalia Barnes and Darren Percival.
Today the group released a new single on iTunes. The song - “We’re Better Than This” aims to provide further momentum for the movement that is gaining traction in social media.
The “We’re Better Than This Australia” (#WBTTAUS) movement has grown from grass
roots concern that there was not enough “ordinary” Australian voices participating in the
debate around immigration issues.
“This movement all came about because a group of us felt that there was no voice out there
for the children being held in Australian detention camps,” said Actor Bryan Brown,
spokesperson for the launch.
“There are currently over 700 children being held on both the mainland and in off-shore
facilities at the behest of the Australian Government and the average length of time spent by
both children and adults is over 400 days.
“There are many Australians who are appalled by this and that’s where the idea to start this
real people movement came from. We’re just ordinary Australians who want both sides of
politics to hear us when we say we believe we can do better than we are currently doing
when it comes to managing kids seeking refuge.
“There are a number of amazing organisations whose job it is to advocate for those seeking
refuge in Australia, these organisations are being marginalised by the Government and major
political parties. It seems it’s too easy to dismiss them as having a vested interest,” said
Bryan.
Page 1 of 4
Media Release
Embargo: 00:01 26th November 2014
According to Australian actor Imogen Bailey, you don’t need to be an expert to see that the
conditions in these camps are simply not suitable for children.
“I don’t think you can be Australian and not realise this is a massively divisive issue in our
country. We’re not here to tell people that their opinions are right or wrong though. What we
are trying to do is to get people to have an opinion based on fact, and our responsibility, as a
nation to care for all children without prejudice or agenda,” said Imogen.
Marta Dusseldorp, Australian actor and mother, said the movement resonated with her
deeply on a number of levels.
“It’s a fact that these children are being held in conditions that affect their long term health –
both physically and emotionally. They are routinely exposed to adult and peer distress; they
are self harming; they are inhibited from moving freely within their environment by wire
fences. Many have lost whatever personal possessions they had as they were confiscated as
they arrived,” said Marta.
“I believe every child deserves the right to just be a child! These kids are crying out for help.
I believe we’re better than this,” said Marta.
Aiming to encourage more robust debate around current Australian policy, and ultimately to
get the children being held released faster, according to Bryan Brown the WBTTAUS
movement provides ordinary Australians with an opportunity to get better informed and have
their voice heard.
“It’s pretty easy really,” said Bryan. “We’re asking people to help us get this message across
to all politicians by doing one of three things. They can visit our website - WBTTAUS.org and give us a short message for a postcard that will be hand delivered to the politicians or
upload their own I believe video. And as of today they can download our song, share and
play it. By doing so, we’ll be showing our politicians that it’s more than just a few of us that
believe we can do better,” stated Bryan.
WBTTAUS is a not for profit group. All involved with it to date have given their time and
resource freely. The only money spent has been on incidental costs that were unavoidable.
These costs were covered personally, by people involved in the movement.
“We’ve all chipped our time and resource in because we believe it’s the right thing to do,”
said Steve Gray – Managing Director of Hopedell Pty Ltd, one of the original and key
creative partners in the movement.
Page 2 of 4
Media Release
Embargo: 00:01 26th November 2014
“We just want Australian’s to join us in aspiring to be better than what we currently are. It
may seem corny but we just honestly believe we’re better than this!”
See WBTAUS.org for further information or to take action or join the conversation on
Facebook at We’re Better Than This or on Twitter #WBTTAUS
…. ENDS ….
For more information or to arrange an interview contact:
Helen Paynter :
Kylea Tink:
0408 464877 (mb)
0419 185671 (mb).
ENDNOTES/ BACKGROUND
We’re better than this Australia is a movement to draw people’s attention to the reality of
life for children in detention camps at the behest of the Australian Government. The people
behind We’re Better Than This is an alliance of informed Australians who - no longer able to
say, “I didn’t know there were so many children in mandatory detention being treated so
inhumanely by our Government”- find themselves now no longer able to stay silent.
The Founders are a small group of professionals with experience in human rights, refugee
advocacy, PR, film making, advertising, marketing and social media. They are:
journalist Ngareta Rossell and writer Dr Rosie Scott. Not for profit board member and
lawyer Therese Cochrane and author Bella Vendramini. Managing director Steve Gray and
account manager Will Bentley-Hawkins both of Hopedell Pty Ltd. Copywriter John
Bevins, creative director David Sciascia, Founder of Republic of Everyone Ben Peacock and
producer David Steindl, movement architect and social leadership expert Stephen Scott
Johnson, online community manager Nanette Johnson, campaign and communications
strategist Kylea Tink and campaign manager Helen Paynter.
Well known Australians who have already lent their voice to this movement include:
- leading business figures: Ita Buttrose, Janet Holmes a Court, Mark Carnegie and Peter
V’lanyds (Chief Executive and Board Member of Racing NSW)
- actors: Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward, Claudia Karvan, Rebecca Gibney, Marta Dusseldorp,
Deb Mailman and Imogen Bailey;
Page 3 of 4
Media Release
Embargo: 00:01 26th November 2014
- leading public figures: Professor Gillian Triggs (President of the Australian Human Rights
Commission), Anne Henderson (Deputy Director of The Sydney Institute), John Brown
(former Federal Minister); Bruce Haigh (political commentator and former diplomat);
Nicholas Cowdery (former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions and UNSW Lecturer); and
Elizabeth Evatt (the First Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia);
- sporting legends Ian Chappell (former Australian Cricket Captain) and George Gregan
(former Wallaby Captain)
- Aboriginal leaders: Gail Mabo (activist) and Marcia Langton (Aboriginal researcher and
scholar)
- journalists: Andrew Denton, Jennifer Byrne, Ngareta Rossell and Margaret Pomerantz
(film critic);
- Authors: Tom Keneally, Anita Heiss and Rosie Scott;
- Religious leaders: Bishops Peter Comensoli, Peter Smith, and Reverend Myung Hwa Park;
and
- musicians: Glen Shorrock, Marcus Corowa, John Williamson, Darren Percival and Mahalia
Barnes;
These people have all given their time voluntarily to get this movement off the ground.
Page 4 of 4