The inaugural worship service for the Uniting Church in 1977 included a statement which urged Church members “to engage in a fearless prophetic ministry in relation to social evils which deny God's will for justice and peace (and) to act with God alongside the oppressed, the hurt, the poor.”

Palm Sunday is traditionally a time to call for justice and peace.  Over recent years a broad coalition of groups have got together for rallies and marches on Palm Sunday, calling for just treatment of people seeking asylum in Australia.

Have you ever wanted to take part in the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees, but haven’t been where they’re being held?  That’s not a problem this year - there won’t be any rallies or walks for you to miss.

The upside is that it has become easier to participate, as the action will be all online.

The overarching source of information is the Refugee Advocacy Network.  They list 36 associated organisations, including the Uniting Church and Act for Peace (NCCA).

That webpage provides details of actions you can take, which in summary are:

• 2 online petitions
• Display signs in your windows
• Social media actions from 11am on Palm Sunday – including options for people who do not use social media –please include hashtag #justice4refugees to get this trending
• View and share the VIRTUAL EVENT and individual clips from 11am on Palm Sunday
• Background information on the key issues and sample selfie signs and templates
• Suggestions for faith groups
• Poster for Palm Sunday Justice for Refugees online – Online action – Justice for Refugees poster

Ensuring people seeking asylum and refugees are included in COVID-19 strategies

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is co-ordinating wider ongoing action in relation to the most pressing issues for people seeking asylum and refugees resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The website link is Leaving no-one behind: Ensuring people seeking asylum and refugees are included in COVID-19 strategies.

The key priorities are:

1. Move people urgently out of crowded immigration detention facilities
2. Ensure a financial safety net and Medicare access for all in Australia
3. Prevent people losing legal status and access to support
4. Move refugees and people seeking asylum from PNG and Nauru
5. Ensure that refugees on SHEVs are not penalised in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

At the bottom of the RCOA webpage is a link to help you send an email to your Federal member.

Alternatively, contact details for the Federal members covering the Mid North Coast are available from:

• Page – Hon Kevin Hogan MP
• Cowper - Mr Pat Conaghan MP
• Lyne - Hon Dr David Gillespie MP