THIS WILL BE MY LAST POST ABOUT AUSTRALIA...
I understand that most people fear speaking out against Governments...I thought that Justice protects those who have been wronged?...I know now that I 'thought' wrong...
While so many are preoccupied with mundane unimportant things, taking basic human rights for granted, my family and I have been surviving against unthinkable odds! I was not fortunate enough to be granted what should never be in question; My rights and freedom were ripped away from me as a direct result of others deceit and dishonesty...Those people deliberately wronged me!...They have not been held accountable for their actions...In actual fact, they've set a precedent that honesty gets you nowhere!...The Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs sealed that precedent with a decision that cannot be appealed...A decision that he knew would not benefit me...A decision that was unjust!
After much consideration, I have decided to decline the decision made at ministerial intervention, to apply for a very costly Contributory Aged Parent Visa...If I agreed to this, that would mean that I am in agreement, and an accomplice to injustice...I will not do that no matter how bad things are for me...I will never pretend to be something I am not! I will be shutting down the Fund I started, and I will return any money paid.
I can understand how many might think that the struggles and challenges that my family and I have faced, may sound fabricated or over-exaggerated, because it seems so unreal...
Well, it has been real...It has been our raw reality...
I have felt unsafe in Australia since Home Affairs placed me on a Bridging Visa E in October 2020, a ministerial intervention legality, granting me the right to remain onshore while making arrangements to leave, if the decision did not go in my favour...This decision left me in financial hardship and homeless with no eligibility for any assistance.
Every time I was turned away from every governing body, even the 'homeless line' after losing everything, through no fault of my own, resentment would turn my stomach, and as the feelings of powerlessness grew, it twisted my insides until I could no longer carry it...I could no longer breath!...My mind never shut down, racing with what plan to make next...There was no time to sleep because there was nowhere safe...We mostly parked in dark car parks in town after town, hoping that the area was not too dangerous...
My hyper-vigilance was off the charts, further impacting my health...My 21-year old niece was very brave, and many times she kept me strong....Her mother and I fell out, as emotions ran high...
She was in Orange working 7 days a week trying to get ahead, but she was exhausted too from the toll that this immigration matter has taken on our family...I received messages of hopelessness from her...And then nothing...The police added her to the missing persons database...Her daughter was hysterical thinking that her mother was dead...That night we parked in a Coles car park and I encouraged her to sleep on the back seat...I didn't sleep...The next morning at 6am we drove 11 hours straight through to Orange...Because family is everything! The police 'sighted' my sister, who had moved to a different address an hour away, and she was removed from the missing persons database.
2 days later we were back on the road. We drove to the closest national reserve, only to discover that the long dirt road was narrow and treacherous, and there was no phone signal...
Eventually I turned the car around, not brave enough to venture down a steep sharp bend, that seemed too narrow to navigate...I prayed to nobody there, that I wouldn't slide over the edge...And then I prayed again that we'd get out on a quarter tank of petrol...We parked at the closest petrol station making call after call to borrow money, or to get another early release of my superannuation payment (which is not enough to live on), but for which I am grateful for.
Then we drove to the next nature reserve, after midnight, down a dark narrow road...We passed a vehicle parked suspiciously on the side of the road with its lights off...But as we drove past, its lights came on and the vehicle followed us...We indicated left to drive onto an even narrower road into the reserve...And the car behind followed us...I hadn't slept in over 2 days, but I knew that if I proceeded down into the reserve, we probably would never come out alive!...I exited and made a sharp U-turn not caring if I took the fence with me...The road was too narrow for the car following to do the same, so they had to continue down the reserve road, and I got the hell out of there!...That night we parked in a KFC car park...My sister slept...And then my niece slept...I remained vigilant...
Another night without sleep...But according to Australian Home Affairs there was no problem here!
Many times I sat in the dark and cried...I wondered where I would find the energy to face another day of injustice...But the next day came, and it started all over again...
In the midst of these challenges, we tried to remain upbeat and positive...We played our music loud, as we drove along another road into the unknown...We'd video call my children whenever we could, and we'd try to keep the hope alive, even when we were breaking inside...Even when we were missing one another so much that it hurt...
I began to wonder why I even held on to see another day?...A tiny voice inside reminded me of how far I've come, and to never give up...And I thought of the people who have been there for us, without judgement...
But the truth is, that nobody who held the power to change anything, cared...
Nobody cared that an immigration solicitor registered with MARA submitted my documents a day late when she'd received all the necessary paperwork months earlier...
Nobody cared that I was silenced by both immigration solicitors representing me at ministerial intervention to not report her...
Nobody cared when the father of my children raped me...Nobody at the Department of Child Services cared to investigate numerous reports of physical, emotional and mental abuse to 4 children aged between 7 and 13 at the hands of my ex-husband...
Nobody cared that there was a breach of children's rights when a mother was given 28 days to depart Australia...Truth is...That nobody cared!
I see now that fighting to be with my children was just a waste of time!...I was the 'joke' fighting a system that does not favour the truth. I really tried!...I held on!...I fought tirelessly for nothing!...
Actually, not for nothing...I was granted ill health due to inhumane amounts of prolonged stress, as well as financial hardship, homelessness, and further time away from my children, that can never be reversed.
I cannot do any of this anymore...I'm exhausted...I'm really tired...Fair go Australia!
The next time you all take a hot shower, have a warm meal, and jump into a cosy safe bed, knowing that you 'belong' and that you have a place to call home, please remember to show gratitude and never take your basic human rights for granted...Who knows what tomorrow may bring...You could be the next one fighting injustice with nowhere to turn...I sincerely hope this never happens to any of you.
Thank you to my 6 beautiful children who have shown amazing strength and maturity, and to my sister for never giving up on our family, even when you had to step back - Love you all...
Aways, always, and remember that our love will cross borders and boundaries, no matter where we all are in the world!
Also, thank you to everyone who encouraged and supported me along this tiring 7 year journey...I will always remember your kindness, that offered a flicker of hope, when I couldn't take anymore disappointments or challenges, and thank you Australia for the moments when I really did feel like I'd found my home...Be kind to one another...Be the catalyst for change xxx
Comments