A Just Australia
Campaigning for just and compassionate treatment for refugees and asylum seekers
Patrons
Alice Garner
Barry Jones AO
Bill Kelty
Br R Julian McDonald cfc
Bridie Carter
Carrillo Gantner AO
Charles Caldas
Chris Sidoti
Claudia Karvan
Cr Jim Soorley
Don Watson
Eva Cox AO
Frank Sartor AO
Hon Fred Chaney AO
Garry McDonald
Hanifa Deen
Hilary McPhee AO
Hon. Justice Elizabeth Evatt AC
Hugh Mackay
Ian Barker QC
Ian Chappell
Ian Macphee AO
Ian Parmenter
Irving Saulwick AM
Jack Thompson AM
Joe Riordan AO
John Coombs
Hon. John Dowd AO QC
John Gibson
John Menadue AO
John Newcombe AO OBE
John Singleton
John Wishart
John Yu, Dr. AC
Judyth Watson
Julia King
Julian Burnside QC
Kate Atkinson
Kate Durham
Lillian Holt
Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE
Malcolm Fraser AC, CH
Dr Marcus Einfeld AO QC
Mark Raper SJ AM
Martin Wesley-Smith AM
Mary Crock, Dr.
Mem Fox AM
Michael Hill
Mike Carlton
Mike Coward
Murray Williams AO
Neville Roach AO
Nicholas Cowdery AM QC
Nick Greiner AC
Nouria Salehi, Dr. OAM
Patrick Dodson
Phillip Adams AO
Prof. Dennis Altman
Prof. Ian Lowe AO
Prof. Jerzy Zubrzycki AO CBE
Prof. John Hewson AM
Prof. Margaret Reynolds
Prof. Peter Baume AO
Reg and Martina Mombassa
Renata Kaldor AO
Rev Bill Crews AM
Rev Tim Costello
Ric Charlesworth AM
Robert Manne
Santo Cilauro
Sir Richard Peek KBE OBE CB
The Most Reverend Ian George AO
Tom Long
Tuong-Quang Luu AO
23/1/2009
A Just Australia – your help needed!
Dear Supporters of A Just Australia,
In late 2008 A Just Australia consulted our members and supporters, as well as
other advocacy organisations to see if the recent progress in asylum seeker
policy meant that we should consider winding up our campaign.
The answer was a resounding no – the campaign for just and fair refugee and
asylum seeker policies must continue. We are now working closely with the Refugee
Council to increase our capacity to campaign effectively.
But to continue this work we need your help – and now more than ever. Each
dollar you give to AJA has an enormous impact on just and humane policy
reform for asylum seekers.
Last year saw a marked positive change in the influence we have within
government, increasing our capacity to provide official policy advice. Minister
Evans has just announced a new advisory group – the Onshore Protection
Consultation Group, of which A Just Australia is a member.
AJA has been instrumental in bringing about some major achievements in
policy reform:-Temporary Protection Visas were abolished; the Pacific Solution
was ended; work rights for asylum seekers on bridging visas will soon be
introduced; we have seen a sweeping change to the approach to detention;
and we’ve reached an agreement to introduce complementary protection, a
major win for the advocacy movement. See our website
www.ajustaustralia.com for a full progress report.
So while we have had an enormous impact in 2008, there is still much to do to
achieve a “just Australia” for refugees. In 2009, we plan to work towards:
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Detention legal reform to enact time limits and judicial oversight.
Reform of asylum claims processing
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Improved support for community-based asylum seekers
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More humane treatment of children affected by immigration matters
•
Halting billing people for detention
(see our website for a detailed campaign plan for 2009)
•
As grants from larger organisations are being diverted to other campaigns, the
importance of support from individuals cannot be overstated.
t: 61 2 8090 8864
e: mail@ajustaustralia.com
A Just Australia Inc. ABN: 58 381 975 760 www.ajustaustralia.com
10/70 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
A Just Australia
Please help by:
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•
•
•
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Becoming a regular monthly donor by credit card or bank direct debit. This form of giving is
most important to us, as it allows us to better plan our capacity for work over the year.
Becoming a new member… many of whom also give an additional donation above the $50
annual membership fees
Renewing your existing membership for the calendar year 2009
Giving a once-off donation
Forwarding this request to other people or groups who could support our campaign. A generic
letter can be found on our website here:
http://www.ajustaustralia.com/thingsyoucando_donatemoney.php
Please pay by cheque, money order or credit card, filling out the attached form and posting it to
us, or you can pay online using our secure payment facility on our website
www.ajustaustralia.com
As a member you can influence the direction of the organisation through participating in Annual
General Meetings and standing for and/or nominating and electing others to Office Bearers and
Board Membership.
The benefits of your membership and/or your donation will flow to others because it will help
AJA continue our campaign for a just society and compassionate treatment for refugees and
people seeking asylum.
We hope that despite the fragile economic conditions you are able to consider making a
contribution to AJA a priority. ANY help you are able to give will be much appreciated.
With our sincere thanks,
Phillip Adams AO
Board Member
Dianne Hiles
Chair
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