Refugee Action Collective (Victoria)
Encyclopedia
Refugee Action Collective (Victoria) or RAC, are a grassroots
group of activists concerned with refugee
rights operating in Melbourne
, Australia
. RAC has organised around issues they deem inhumane by the Australian Government in relation to asylum seekers, such as organising protests and vigils as well as being involved in more militant
action such as breaking out and hiding detainees.
's policies toward the mandatory detention of refugees and the issuing of temporary protection visa
s which they branded as racist. RAC activists were involved in breaking out detainees from the Woomera Detention Centre in 2002, protesting outside the Baxter Detention Centre in 2005 and protests against the Tampa incident of 2001
, where 438 asylum seekers were denied entry into Australia by the government.
asylum seekers. In 2010, RAC were amongst a coalition of groups calling on the government to "end the freeze on asylum seeker claims" and opposing what they call "another Tampa
election". The move followed the government's decision to freeze processing of all claims by asylum seekers from Afghanistan
and Sri Lanka
, and the re-opening of the Curtin Detention Centre
. RAC also protested outside the Maribyrnong Detention Centre
in 2010 after a Tamil detainee went on hunger strike
after his refugee claim had been accepted but still awaits security clearance from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
.
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
group of activists concerned with refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
rights operating in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. RAC has organised around issues they deem inhumane by the Australian Government in relation to asylum seekers, such as organising protests and vigils as well as being involved in more militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
action such as breaking out and hiding detainees.
History
RAC was set up in late 2000 by a range of activists in response to the former Howard GovernmentHoward Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
's policies toward the mandatory detention of refugees and the issuing of temporary protection visa
Temporary protection visa
A Temporary Protection Visa was an Australian visa document introduced by the Howard Government on 20 October 1999, which was issued to persons who had been recognised as refugees fleeing persecution. The scheme was controversial, with the government claiming it was a necessary response to the...
s which they branded as racist. RAC activists were involved in breaking out detainees from the Woomera Detention Centre in 2002, protesting outside the Baxter Detention Centre in 2005 and protests against the Tampa incident of 2001
Tampa affair
In August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
, where 438 asylum seekers were denied entry into Australia by the government.
Recent years
By 2009, RAC began focusing their attention on the Rudd-Gillard Government's position on TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
asylum seekers. In 2010, RAC were amongst a coalition of groups calling on the government to "end the freeze on asylum seeker claims" and opposing what they call "another Tampa
Tampa affair
In August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
election". The move followed the government's decision to freeze processing of all claims by asylum seekers from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and the re-opening of the Curtin Detention Centre
Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre
Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre is an Australian immigration detention facility in the Kimberley in Western Australia. Curtin was described by former Immigration minister, Philip Ruddock, as the country's "most primitive" processing centre...
. RAC also protested outside the Maribyrnong Detention Centre
Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre
Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre is an Australian immigration detention facility in Maribyrnong, Victoria. Originally opened in 1966, as the Maribyrnong Migrant Hostel, then the Midway Hostel in the late 1960s and now based within a part of Victoria University's campus student...
in 2010 after a Tamil detainee went on hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
after his refugee claim had been accepted but still awaits security clearance from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
.
Notable affiliate individuals and organisations
- Judith Bessant, Head of RMIT UniversityRMIT UniversityRMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
Global Studies, Social Science and Planning Department - Eve Bodsworth, former President of the University of Melbourne Student UnionUniversity of Melbourne Student UnionThe student union, one of several student organisations at the University of Melbourne, Australia, is divided into two parts. The University of Melbourne Student Union , incorporated as University of Melbourne Student Union, Inc. provides representation for students. The service provision arm is...
- Chris Chaplin, State Secretary of the Australian GreensAustralian GreensThe Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
(Victoria) - Tahir Cambis, filmmaker and activist
- Kate Davidson, former National Education Officer of the National Union of StudentsNational Union of Students (Australia)The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
- Judy McVey, of SolidarityInternational Socialist Organisation (Australia)The International Socialist Organisation was an Australian Trotskyist political organisation, founded in 1971, originally as the Marxist Workers' Group until it dissolved to form Solidarity in 2008 with two other socialist organisations...
- Michal Morris, of the Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
- Michele O'Neil, Secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear UnionTextile, Clothing and Footwear Union of AustraliaThe Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia is a trade union in Australia. It represents a wide range of workers from the textile, clothing, footwear and felt hatting industries....
(Victorian Branch) and Vice-President of the Victorian Trades Hall CouncilVictorian Trades Hall CouncilThe Victorian Trades Hall Council is a representative body of trade union organisations, known as a Labour council, in the State of Victoria, Australia... - Brian Pound, Secretary of the Media, Entertainment and Arts AllianceMedia, Entertainment and Arts AllianceThe Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries...
(Victorian Branch) - Nabil Sulaiman, of the Australian Arabic Council
- Fleur Taylor, of Socialist AlternativeSocialist Alternative (Australia)Socialist Alternative is a Trotskyist political organisation in Australia formed by an expulsion from the former International Socialist Organisation in 1995. It is one of the largest groups of the Australian far Left, claiming to have the largest active membership. With branches across...