Prominent Australians call for urgent Action for Afghanistan

Over 100 prominent Australians have publicly announced their support for the people of Afghanistan by calling on the Australian Government to take critical action.

Actors, sportspeople, musicians, journalists, and well-known figures, including Tamie Fraser, Nova Peris OAM, Ben Brown, Peter Greste, Amanda Keller, Lydia Williams, Brittany Higgins, Grace Tame and Osher Günsberg, have signed an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to alleviate the suffering of people from Afghanistan. Key actions include: 1. Committing to an additional humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 prioritising the most vulnerable persecuted people of Afghanistan.

2. Granting permanent protection to more than 5,100 refugees from Afghanistan, predominantly from the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic groups, who are currently on temporary protection visas in Australia.

3. Prioritising the family reunification visas of Afghanistan-Australians.

4. Lifting the ban on resettlement of refugees to Australia through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia.

Tamie Fraser “Many women, men, and children in Afghanistan at the moment are desperate for food and shelter and are at risk. It is little enough to demand the government accept and welcome them as refugees to this wonderful country where they can join people from Afghanistan who have been here for a hundred years’. Amanda Keller “I have been heartbroken at recent events in Afghanistan. Australia has been heavily involved in Afghanistan for the last 20 years, we have a responsibility to help out now. There are things we can do’’

Osher Günsberg “Let's not forget that for those who've come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share.”

The open letter was produced by the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network. A petition launched on the back of the open letter, has since collected over 180,000 signatures from people across the nation.

Media contact:

Emma Davies (RACS)
emma.davies@racs.org.au