Following a number of responses to myself on a private basis and on
the Australian WWDA-discuss list I feel I should explain further my
position. I consider discrimination on the basis of disability, race
and gender to have taken place in the Kayani case. Race
discrimination and discrimination against disabled people have the
same roots - those deemed fit and those deemed not fit to be
citizens on the basis of physiognomy and bodily difference. The
disability movement needs to see anti-racist work as part of the
wider brief. With regards to this specific case Shazad Kayani waited
six years to bring his family, including his daughter with a
disability, to Australia. The sole reason he was unable to be
reunited with his family was due to his daughter's disability. He had
already been granted refugee status. The daughter with CP was,
according to the federal Governement going to be a burden on the
taxpayer - an estimated $750,000 was the figure quoted. Would the
same figure have been quoted for a male ? This has an implicit flow
on to all Australians. As disabled people, we are fighting against a
notion, which we cannot allow to be used to exclude refugees and
migrants, that we constitute a burden to society. We should also
remember that, on a global scale, war and conflict are the major
causes for disability and a humanitarian refugee policy should take
an affirmative approach to include those with disabilities. We also
know that the majority of refugees are women adding a gender
dimension to the issue.
The current policy against disabled migrants and refugees causes
severe stress and hardship to the families concerned. It is inhumane.
There is no doubt that this stress has had the effect of compounding
and exacerbating the disabilities of these individuals.
When I migrated to Australia, in 1979, if the doctor nominated by the
Australian Governement to assess my health status had not been drunk
he might have picked up on the fact that I had MS. Luckily I was
accepted and I consider myself to have been a contributing member of
the Australian community ever since I arrived. Had I been turned
down on the basis of disability my partner would have had to choose
between returning to his aged and ailing parents ( also refugees) and
staying in our relationship. Thus the system would have put my
relationship and my future at risk and the impact of being considered
a huge financial burden would have no doubt further affected my self
esteem.
I ask you not to be so hasty when condemning those who take extreme
measures to be reunited with their families.
Those wishing to protest can do so by writing to
Phillip Ruddock Australian Minister for Immigration :
[log in to unmask]
Darryl Williams Australian Attorney General + 61 2 6277 7300 Fax +
61 2 6273 4102
We need to demand a review the Australian immigration legislation
that prevents the entry of families with disabled members.
In solidarity
--
Helen Meekosha
Senior Lecturer
Social Work
UNSW
Sydney 2052
Australia
Convenor Social Relations of Disability Research Network
Ph +61 2 9385 1862
Fax +61 2 9662 8991
http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/socialwork/Research/Staff%20Profiles/helenmeekosha.htm
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