By Lachlan Moorhead
A LOCAL migrant leader has slammed the current Labor Government’s new asylum seeker policy as no better than the Howard Government’s Pacific Solution.
President of the Association of Hazaras in Victoria Mark Hamdam said he wasn’t surprised that the asylum seeker debate had been harshly politicized in the lead-up to this Saturday’s Federal Election.
“The government policy on Asylum Seekers is very tough. Refugees are coming from countries with lot of problems,” the Berwick resident said.
“Both parties are using the issue as a political tool.”
Mr Hamdam, who came to Australia after leaving his Afghanistan home over a decade ago, also said the current Coalition asylum seeker policy was just as harsh as Labor’s.
“The coalition has been harsh against asylum seekers in the past and they will be again if they win the election,” he said.
“Which again is not good, it’s not humane to send back refugees or not let them join their family.”
Mr Hamdam knows what it is like to be an asylum seeker attempting to start a new life abroad and faced with numerous setbacks. He left Afghanistan in 1999 as a result of escalating Taliban violence against he and other Hazaras within the country and came to Australia illegally before being granted a temporary visa.
Having since received a permanent visa and settling in Victoria with his family, Mr Hamdam joined the Hazara Association, based in Springvale, in 2006 and was this year elected as president. The group is actively involved in the community and offers regular activities and opportunities for refugees.
Having advocated for refugee rights for most of his life, Mr Hamdam said the Hazara Association was close to his heart.
“We actively advocate for disadvantaged people and new arrivals. We show them sources of help, English classes and celebrate cultural traditions,” he said.
“We’re trying to help those people because we don’t have enough resources. It’s a hard job but we are passionate about this and we will keep it going.”
