For 11 years, Neil Para’s life has been riddled with uncertainty.
He fled war-torn Sri Lanka for Malaysia in 2008 in search of a safer life for his growing family, temporarily leaving his pregnant wife behind.
“She was my first child to arrive into the world, but I had to leave,” Para said. “This feeling I can’t even describe in my own language.”
In 2012, Para’s family, together again and with his wife pregnant a third time, made the perilous journey from Malaysia to Indonesia then Christmas Island onboard a small fishing boat carrying more than 200 asylum seekers.
After being held in detention, the Paras were released with working rights only to have them revoked four months later. They’ve been living in Ballarat without visas ever since.
But life in limbo has become unbearable. On Tuesday, Para will set out on foot from Ballarat to Sydney, to deliver a petition to the office of the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
He hopes the 40-day, 1,000km walk will raise awareness of his family’s plight and the suffering of thousands of other refugees.
In February this year, the government announced that refugees who held Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas could apply for permanent visas under the new Resolution of Status (RoS) scheme. The announcement paved the way for about 19,000 refugees to secure a pathway to citizenship and family reunion.
But the Paras were among thousands in Australia who missed out, even though they have called Australia home for more than a decade.
“There are a number of thousand people who are still in limbo, vulnerable and in uncertainty. Not only adults, but children. They haven’t chosen to come to Australia, they’re dependent on us. We want certainty for those children immediately,” Para said.
“My youngest daughter was just granted her Australian citizenship because she was born here, but even she doesn’t have the same rights as other Australian children.”
The petition has more than 11,000 signatures, but Para said more are needed in order for any impactful change to be made.
He has rallied refugee advocates across Victoria and New South Wales to help with his journey.
after newsletter promotion
“Last time I went to Canberra [for a protest] I realised we were seen but not heard,” he said. “We need to do something in a quiet and peaceful way rather than protesting again.”
Not entitled to work rights, study rights or healthcare, the Paras have spent the last decade relying on support and funding from organisations including Rural Australians for Refugees, church groups, and individual members of the community.
Rural Australians for Refugees Ballarat convener Margaret O’Donnell said Para has been an upstanding member of the Ballarat community for many years, and his family has earned the respect and admiration of many. Para also founded the Union of Australian Refugees.
“It’s a walk for freedom,” she said. “He’s walking for his family and also for many others. It’s torture not knowing what your future holds or not being able to support your family.”
Para hopes to be granted an audience with Albanese once he reaches Sydney.
“Our plight is without an end in sight,” he said “We need to end this.”
A spokesperson for the department of home affairs said the government was focused on providing those who engage with Australia’s protection obligations a chance to continue their lives with certainty and security. They said the department “encourages people who are unlawful to approach us to resolve their status”.
#Asylum #seeker #walking #1000km #Ballarat #Sydney #raise #awareness #temporary #protection #visas #Rural #Australia
