Ask your MP to protect fairness in Australia’s migration system 

Australia’s migration and refugee protection systems are facing significant changes that would have significant adverse consequences for refugees, people seeking asylum and migrant families. 

These sweeping changes, proposed by the Federal Government, include: 

  • removing work rights for people seeking asylum
  • limiting appeal rights in refugee protection cases
  • enforcing additional barriers to family reunification, a further blow to families already faced with increased visa fees and years-long wait for visas 

These changes risk pushing people into poverty, increasing vulnerability to exploitation, and separating families for longer periods, weakening the fundamental safeguards within Australia’s migration system. 

Australia needs migration and refugee protection systems that are fair, effective and well-managed. We can address delays and backlogs without removing people’s rights, forcing people into poverty or creating additional barriers for families trying to reunite.  

It is critical that we urge as many members of Cabinet as possible to oppose these changes as quickly as we can. We do not know when these changes might be announced, but we do know that the time for action is now. Please email your local MP and ask them to reject these sweeping and harsh changes, and to support migration policies that uphold fairness, family unity, procedural fairness and protection from exploitation. 

How do I write to my MP? 

  1. Use the form on the right to write and send an email to your MP.
  2. Given the urgency of making contact, please consider following up on your email with a call to your MP’s office.
  3. If your MP is a member of the Australian Labor Party, it is even more important to email and call them, as these changes are actively being considered by Cabinet. 

What should I include in my email?   

  1. Introduce yourself and state that you live in the MP’s electorate.
    • E.g., My name is [Name] and I live in [Suburb]. I’m writing as a constituent concerned about the changes to Australia’s migration and protection systems.
  2. Explain why protecting fairness in the migration system matters to you personally. You might mention:
    • Your belief in fairness and giving everyone a fair go
    • Your faith or personal values
    • Your own experience as a refugee, person seeking asylum or migrant and/or
    • Your connection to someone affected by Australia’s migration system
    • Your belief in keeping families together
    • Your concern about vulnerable people being pushed into poverty or exploitation.
  3.  Share the facts with your MP. You might explain that:
    • The Government has proposed removing work rights for people seeking asylum
    • Preventing people from working can increase poverty, homelessness and reliance on charities
    • Removing work rights may increase the risk of labour exploitation and modern slavery by pushing people into unsafe and predatory work
    • Proposed changes to appeal rights would reduce procedural fairness in refugee protection decisions and could risk people returning to danger
    • Family visa changes will result in longer periods of separation for partners, children and families
    • Partner visa application charges have increased dramatically, reaching $11,710 before additional costs such as medical examinations, police checks and translations
    • Migration reform should address genuine challenges without blaming migrants and refugees for issues such as housing affordability or cost of living pressures 
  4. Make a clear request. You could ask your MP to:
    • Oppose the removal of work rights for people seeking asylum
    • Support procedural fairness and a meaningful review process for refugee protection decisions
    • Support policies that keep families together and strengthen family reunification pathways
    • Oppose excessive vias fee increases that put family reunion out of reach
    • Support migration reforms that are evidence-based, fair and humane
    • Support a migration system that protects people from exploitation and hardship
    • Support constructive national conversation about migration that brings communities together rather than creating division 
  5. Close your letter clearly and politely. You should:
    • Thank your MP for their time
    • Request a reply at their convenience
  6. Other letter-writing tips
    • The most persuasive letters are personal, so be sure to tell your own story
    • Be respectful and constructive
    • Focus on solutions
    • Avoid aggressive or accusatory language 

Thank you for defending a fair go for all.