“The launch of “Doctors for Refugees”, at the NSW Parliament, tonight (Wed 14 August, 6pm for 6.30pm, Sydney Theatrette) is another indication of the growing opposition to Labor’s PNG Solution and the bi-partisan support of both labor and the Coalition to prevent asylum seekers being processed or resettled in Australia,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
Speakers at the launch will include: Mr Tobias Andresson, a UWS PhD student; Ms Charlotte Akopian an 11 year old student from Monte Sant’Angelo Mercy College; Dr Barri Phatarfod, Sydney GP and Dr Richard Kidd, a Brisbane GP and Qld AMA president in 2012, presently a federal councillor for the AMA.
“Growing dissent in our professional ranks now attained critical mass. AMSA, the Australian Medical Students Association seems to have reached exactly the same conclusion at the same time. They have recently updated and strengthened their statement concerning the treatment of asylum seekers,” said Dr Phatarfod.
“Doctors for Refugees represents an important opportunity to bring all sectors of our profession together to support humane treatment of asylum seekers in Australia.”
For more information contact: Dr Barri Phatarfod, 0412 090 304
Doctors for Refugees platform:
Who we are…
We are a group of Australian doctors and other concerned health practitioners campaigning for a fair and humane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. As trusted and respected leaders in our community we have a responsibility to address misinformation and the adverse outcomes of people who are denied equity of access to good health care. This includesthose who have been subjected to atrocities and displacement.
We aim to…
• Demonstrate solidarity amongst doctors and other health practitioners as a united community voice focused on improving the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia’s jurisdiction.
• Inform and educate our colleagues of the disparity between our international obligations and our current practice,as well as the detrimental health effects suffered by sections of the community (as nine out of ten boat arrivals are found to be genuine refugees and thus will be resettled in Australia).
• Reinforce to the government the human and financial costs of detention, policing, and compensation forany legal claims and long-term mental health needs of survivors of detention centres compared with the cost of accessing Medicare subsidised services and early community accommodation.
Our goal is to achieve … • On-shore processing of all asylum seekers • Detention only for security and health checks and not to exceed 45 days • Speedy processing of refugee determination • Bridging visas which include community housing, employment rights, access to Medicare or similar subsidised health care and Centrelink payments to be available to all asylum seekers regardless of mode of arrival
