No go for Point Nepean refugees ‘home’ Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au THE Point Nepean quarantine station will not be reopened to provide sanctuary for refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria despite suggestions last week it could be a suitable base for asylum seekers. Liberal state opposition leader Matthew Guy had urged Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to consider housing some Syrian refugees at the Point Nepean station “at the end of the Mornington Peninsula� early last week. “In 1998-99, the Kennett government and the Howard government managed to bring many hundreds of Kosovar refugees to that site,� Mr Guy said. “If Daniel Andrews won’t do anything with that site then we should use it for good rather than letting it rot and how we could use it for good is use it to house in a peaceful environment many hundreds of Syrian families who are fleeing war and persecution and oppression.� The Premier said advice received from bureaucrats noted the Point Nepean barracks are in no condition to house refugees but Mr Andrews said Victoria is prepared to play its part in accepting its share of 12,000 Syrian refugees the federal government will allow to permanently resettle in Australia for humanitarian reasons. Mr Guy’s proposal to house refugees at Point Nepean was also nixed by his federal Liberal colleagues. Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson said the Syrian refugees, unlike the
Kosovars, will not return to their country of birth so a “temporary refuge� is not needed. “It will be mainly women, children and families identified from persecuted minorities for whom the conflict in the Middle East and how it might unfold will see no opportunity for them to return to their homes,� he said. “It’s a humanitarian program that sees those allocated visas settled in the community, not in a particular or single facility.� Mr Billson’s cabinet colleague, Flinders MP Greg Hunt, also noted it is “unlikely that a single central facility will be required�. “In all likelihood they will be integrated into the community as they arrive in family units,� Mr Hunt said. “This is as opposed to the temporary places that were required to house the Kosovar refugees.� Mr Hunt said the Point Nepean quarantine station could be an option to be investigated if such a centre is required. Nepean Liberal state MP Martin Dixon backed Mr Guy’s suggestion that Point Nepean could be used to house Syrian refugees. “Thanks to over $40 million dollars invested in utilities and infrastructure by the federal government the former Coalition government, Point Nepean is now a much more viable option for refugee accommodation than it was when we hosted the Kosovars in 1999,� he said. “The Premier is showing his complete ignorance regarding Point Nepean as these funds have been specifically invested to prepare the site for
future accommodation and visitation needs in accordance with Labor’s own 2010 master plan. “While in principle I support the utilisation of Point Nepean for humanitarian purposes, and aside from the physical accommodation infrastructure, I would like to see more details of how refugees can be managed, cared for and occupied during their stay.� The Abbott government has agreed to resettle 12,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict in Australia in addition to 13,750 asylum seekers accepted into the country each year. The federal government is also providing an extra $44 million to help
more than 240,000 people in camps displaced by the Syrian conflict with food, clothing and shelter as winter approaches. “This will take the total Australian government contribution – humanitarian contribution – to people on the borders of Syria and Iraq under the former government and under this government to some $230 million,� Mr Hunt said. Mr Billson hoped the decision to permanently resettle 12,000 Syrian asylum seekers means “they can make a real go of their new life in Australia�. “It’s a very generous, warm-hearted but clear thinking response,� he said.
Lawyer talks about helping refugees A LAWYER and volunteer at the Asylum Seekers’ Resource Centre will speak about refugees at a Southern Women’s Action Network meeting, 10.30am Sunday 20 September. Gabriella Bornstein, a member of the resource centre’s speaking team, will discuss the issues faced by the organisation and its efforts to assist, advocate for, empower, and educate refugees seeking asylum. The venue is the Mornington Peninsula Shire offices, corner Victoria and Queen streets, Mornington. Southern Women’s Action Network members endeavour to promote social justice and equality for all nationalities and creeds. Ms Bornstein’s family background instigated her interest in helping refugees and her other volunteer work has been teaching English and numeracy in Tanzania. Details: 0400 835 486.
Mental health help FUNDING cuts to mental health services have prompted a response from Peninsula Harmony Counselling Service manager Emma Hayes. “With the cuts and the growing demand for mental health services on the peninsula I have started my own not-for-profit service,� Ms Hayes said. Peninsula Harmony Counselling Service, based in Somerville, offers counselling without the trouble of getting a mental health plan. “To make it easier I also perform case management and outreach services,� she said. “Due to a growing need I am also setting up groups on the peninsula for adults and children focusing on depression, anxiety, resilience, mindfulness, anger management and suicide prevention. “These groups are one of a kind and can also be adapted to run in school.� Details: 0406545482.
Collection rebuilt
Focus on refugees: Lawyer Gabriella Bornstein will speak at a Southern Women’s Action Network meeting about her work helping refugees.
THE Mornington Peninsula regional group of the Order of Australia (Victorian branch) held its annual lunch last month at Safety Beach Sailing Club. Guest speaker was Australian art expert Andrew Mackenzie who specialises in the Heidelberg School. For the past six years Mackenzie has helped the Marysville District Historical Society rebuild its collection which was lost Black Saturday bushfires, 7 February 2009. He was awarded the OAM in 2014. The occasion also saw the association present the 16th annual schools award to Mornington Secondary College with John Paul College, Frankston, runner-up.
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