No Debt

fter four years in immigration detention, Masoud was granted a temporary visa. Then he was hit with a $264,000 bill for his “accommodation” in Baxter Detention Centre. There are hundreds more like him – experiencing unimaginable trauma only to then be slugged with an enormous bill for the privilege. Thanks to the efforts of caring Australians, like yourself, the bill to abolish detention debt passed just moments ago in the Senate. In an historic move, Liberal Senator Troeth, who met with a GetUp delegation of those affected by this policy, abandoned her party’s position and crossed the floor to support the bill. She was joined, at the last minute, by Senator Fielding – whose support we will need on other refugee reform bills in the coming months. So often we criticise politicians for not standing up and speaking out. Now it is our responsibility to thank them for doing the right thing. With other key refugee and asylum seeker reform bills up for debate shortly, it’s important that we take a moment to thank Senator Troeth and Senator Fielding who took the courageous move of voting on moral rather than party lines.

Click here to send these Senators a message of thanks: www.getup.org.au/campaign/ThankYou

Having seen the faces, heard the stories and seen the emotions of those affected by this bill, our politicians found it in their hearts to end this injustice. In no small part, the efforts of GetUp members, along with the support of so many refugee and asylum seeker campaigners across the nation, made a huge difference to the passing of this amendment. This change will see improvements in the lives of hundreds of Australians who simply want to get on with their lives. No longer will asylum seekers begin a new life in Australia under the heavy burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars of detention debt. www.getup.org.au/campaign/ThankYou

Thank you, Simon Sheikh National Director – GetUp! Action for Australia

PS – Masoud Shams, fleeing Iran, was given a debt by the Commonwealth of $264,000. Thanks to your efforts this injustice has come to an end. Use our simple tool to thank our politicians for ending this injustice by clicking here.