Use this template to talk to your MP about refugees this election!

As we approach the upcoming election, alongside fellow members of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA), we have created some resources to assist you to talk to your local MPs about your support for refugees!

Please feel free to use our template letter below, and get in touch with us if you would like some support organising a meet-up with your local MP, especially if you are in one of the following swing electorates:

• Kooyong
• Goldstein
• Macnamara
• Wills
• Bruce
• Wannon
• Calwell
• Watson
• Fowler
• Wentworth; or
• Brisbane.

Use this Draft Letter to contact your local MP!

Dear [Insert Local MP],

As we approach the upcoming federal election, supporters of the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) write to urge you to take meaningful action to address the ongoing injustices faced by refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia. CAPSA is a national alliance of Catholic organisations, schools, parishes, and individuals committed to upholding the dignity and rights of people seeking asylum. Rooted in Catholic social teaching, our network advocates for fair, humane, and compassionate policies.

For over a decade, Australian refugee policy has inflicted immeasurable harm on people seeking asylum. Prolonged offshore detention has subjected individuals to indefinite limbo, attempting to strip them of hope and fundamental human dignity. Many continue to endure deplorable conditions in offshore facilities, with limited access to medical care, education, and basic freedoms. Others, living in the community, face extreme hardship due to restrictive visa conditions that deny them the right to work, study, or access essential services. These policies not only contravene our international obligations but also diminish Australia’s reputation as a compassionate and just nation.

Pope Francis has been a steadfast advocate for refugees and people seeking asylum, urging world leaders to welcome those fleeing persecution with open arms. In his Lenten message this year, he calls on us to ‘compare our daily life with that of migrants or foreigners, to learn how to sympathise with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us.’ His words serve as a reminder that Australia must take decisive action to uphold the dignity and humanity of those in need.

As a candidate in the upcoming federal election, you have a powerful voice in shaping these policies. We therefore urge you to support the following 3 commitments:

• End the uncertainty for people seeking asylum by providing fair and equitable pathways to permanency in Australia;
• Ensure people seeking asylum have access to work and study rights, as well as other public services including Medicare, housing and financial support;
• End offshore detention and processing and quickly re-settle all people in Australia;
• Increase Australia’s humanitarian intake and expand the existing community support program which covers most expenses and assists arrivals to integrate with society;

The current system is failing those who seek refuge. We ask you to support policies that reflect justice and compassion, ensuring that people fleeing conflict and persecution receive the protection and dignity they deserve.