East Timorese
Letter to the Editor - The Courier Mail
26 May 2005
Dear Sir/Madam
It was disappointing to note that your story (Mercy Dashed, 26/5/05) did not make mention of Senator Amanda Vanstone’s announcement that the cases of these East Timorese asylum seekers will now be reconsidered.
A media release from Senator Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, released on 19 May, stated that a number of the East Timorese asylum seekers have asked that their cases be reconsidered. They have since provided new information in support of their claims since the time that they were advised that their requests for intervention had been unsuccessful.
It is expected that applicants will be advised of the outcome of this process of reconsideration within the next two to three weeks. In the meantime, the Department of Immigration will continue existing arrangements regarding bridging visas, work rights and access to special payments from the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme for those in need of such support.
If Ms Fynes-Clinton had contacted the Department for comment on her story we would have informed her of this, resulting in a more accurate report.
Kym Charlton
Acting Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA