Western suburbs asylum seeker advocacy groups and sympathetic churches are banding together to send Labor a message ahead of July’s federal election.
Williamstown’s Dorothy Page, who co-founded the Hobsons Bay Refugee Network, said she would cast a protest vote against Labor over its “cruel” asylum-seeker policies.
“I’ve voted Labor all my life, unquestioningly you could say, but unless they do something I’m not going to vote for them,” she said.
“I think there are a lot of people who are going towards the Greens because they don’t want to vote with either of the others. The government really doesn’t understand what the electorate’s thinking about asylum seekers.”
A growing list of Labor MPs and candidates have criticised ALP asylum-seeker policies.
Father Greg Trythall of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Williamstown said asylum seekers would be a political issue for years.
“I have visited the Middle East in recent years, especially Syria,” he said.
“Certain politicians need to visit some of these countries where refugees come from and realise the need of so many to protect their families and their own future by fleeing to a safe land full of potential opportunities.
“At the moment, some too-influential politicians have short-ranged vision.
“They need some better glasses to see a bigger picture for improvement of life of people in need.
“If they could visit some of the countries where refugees flee from I am sure they would end up with far more compassion.”
Federal Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said he supported ALP policy on the detention of asylum seekers in offshore facilities.
“There are no simple answers and people of good faith can and will disagree about the best approach,” the Labor MP said. “Labor has a clear and unequivocal position – we will not put the people smugglers back in business.
“This position was determined at the Labor national conference and I support it.”
