When Helen Panopoulos joined Refugee Action Collective, she thought it was a matter of “common sense” until Australia’s immigration detention policies, would be seen as illegal.
Ten years later, she stands against “the same policy” that makes it hard for refugees to get permanent residency.
“I thought, ‘This (mandatory detention) is illegal. I’ll only be volunteering for a couple of months, and it will all be fine, you know. Common sense will prevail,'” she told Neos Kosmos.
Refugee Action Collective is a volunteer group of people that fights for fair refugee policies in Australia through activism.
“We are a collective. Basically, any person can join us. It doesn’t matter what your politics is, as long as you advocate for the human rights of refugees that come to Australia.”
Panopoulos said that according to the UN Convention, countries must help asylum seekers, no matter how they arrive, whether by boat or plane.
However, she said that Australia went “against the convention,” by persecuting those arriving by boat.
“We try to bring awareness to the public, and say there’s people come seeking for our help, they are fleeing war. Sometimes they cannot go on an aeroplane. Sometimes there is no embassy where they are to get passport. So, they have to go on the boat, and we shouldn’t be punishing people by sending them offshore to our neighbour countries in Asia. ”
She also stressed that “Australia is the only country on Earth” with “indefinite mandatory detention.”
“The policy is such that they could lock you up in a third country indefinitely. We had children and mothers and fathers locked up for seven years in Nauru.”
Panopoulos said that some refugees, have been “working for ten years” but because they “are not citizens” they “can be deported at any time.”
“There’s no permanency, and there’s some (refugees) that are still waiting to get some sort of visa because they’re not allowed to work, study, they are not allowed to access Medicare. It’s really shocking how we treat these people.”
Last year the Labor government announced that asylum seekers will be able to transition onto permanent visa arrangements, by abolishing Temporary Protection Visas, given to those in need of protection.
“There’s nothing temporary about a protection visa. They (refugees) have been on them for 10 or 14 years,” said Panopoulos.
Every Sunday since October 7, 2023, “Free Palestine Melbourne,” a community organisation advocating for Palestinian freedom, has been rallying in Melbourne’s CBD, attracting thousands of pro-Palestine supporters.
This Sunday, March 24, the Refugee Action Collective will join the rally, standing “in solidarity with Palestine,”at the State Library at 12pm.
“War causes refugees, and this is where we got involved, and co rally with ‘Free Palestine’.
We would like to see Australia take an intake of refugees from Palestine and to treat them with respect.”
The Greek Australian activist, called the events on October 7, where Hamas militants broke Israel’s border security and attacked Israelis, “unacceptable.”
However, she said “the response to it has been genocidal.”
“Murder is murder, and it doesn’t justify whoever does it.”
Panopoulos said Palestinians have long been “suppressed” and even called “animals” by Israel’s Prime Minister and others, blurring the distinction between civilians and Hamas militants.
“The Palestinians living in the West Bank have been discriminated, they are being persecuted already, so that’s the next catastrophe happening there after Gaza.”
Recently the federal government reversed its decision to cancel visas for people escaping Gaza to enter Australia, leaving many stuck in other countries.
“Our focus as a Refugee Action Collective is to make sure that not one minute you grant visas to Palestinians and then you withdraw it.”
Panopoulos’ passion for refugee activism stems from her Pontian heritage, linked to the Genocide of Greeks in Asia Minor during the Greco-Turkish War.
She said that her grandmother’s experience of genocide reflects the intergenerational trauma seen in war-affected populations, such as those in Gaza and Afghanistan.
“As Greeks we should be able to relate.”
Panopoulos urged Australia to “apply pressure” to its American allies, to change the war’s course, considering America’s support to Israel.
She also said that “our politicians can increase humanitarian visas to people from these places and treat them with respect and dignity.”
“Let’s stick up for our national interests and our cohesion. I mean, we are a multicultural society. The government should protect that, and nurture it.”