Two WA election forums

The long-term mandatory detention of asylum seekers not only breaches multiple UN treaties to which Australia is a signatory, it goes against the principals of any decent and humane society.

Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) are also an inhumane policy that does not address the permanent protection needs of refugees.

Come and hear about the issue firsthand from the legislators, the advocates and the refugees themselves.

Senator Andrew Bartlett, Leader of the Australian Democrats: Senator Bartlett has worked for many years to bring about positive changes to immigration legislation. He has visited every onshore detention centre and twice been to Nauru to meet with detained asylum seekers.

Alanna Sherry, ChilOut Coordinator: ChilOut is a mainly Sydney-based lobby group aiming to get all the children (and their caregivers) out of Australia's detention centres.

Local Hazara Representatives: The Hazara Representatives will talk on their firsthand experiences of refugee policy

Jack Smit, Coordinator of Project SafeCom: Project SafeCom is a WA based refugee lobby, action and advocacy group.

Senator Brian Greig of the Australian Democrats will also attend the event.

The long-term mandatory detention of asylum seekers not only breaches multiple UN treaties to which Australia is a signatory, it goes against the principles of any decent and humane society. There are alternatives used by most other countries, but these have been overlooked in favour of more expensive and inhumane detention.

The Howard Government wants to abolish the Board of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), replacing it with nothing, and then mainstream all Indigenous programs. What does this mean for the future of reconciliation in Australia?

The Howard Government has recently moved amendments restricting the rights of same-sex couples and has a history of legislating against the rights of same-sex parents.

What are the parallels between Indigenous, refugee and same-sex policy? The issues may appear different on the surface but the root cause - scapegoating sections of the Australian community for political gain - is the same.

Senator Andrew Bartlett, Leader of the Australian Democrats: Senator Bartlett has worked for many years to bring about positive changes to immigration legislation. He has visited every onshore detention centre and twice been to Nauru to meet with detained asylum seekers.

Senator Brian Greig, Senator for Western Australia: Brian Greig has over fifteen years experience as a human rights advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Australians. In 1998, he received the Australian Democrats' Chris Carter Memorial Award in recognition of his work on GLBTI human rights. In the same year, he was elected to the Senate to represent Western Australia and the Australian Democrats.