Write to your MP
Australia’s migration and refugee protection system is facing significant proposed changes that could have serious consequences for refugees, people seeking asylum and migrant families.
The Federal Government has proposed several sweeping changes to the migration system. These changes include removing work rights for people seeking asylum, limiting appeal rights in refugee protection cases, increasing visa charges, and creating additional barriers to family reunification. These changes risk pushing people into poverty, increasing vulnerability to exploitation, separating families for longer periods, and weakening fundamental safeguards within Australia’s migration system.
Australia needs a migration and refugee protection system that is 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.
Now is the time to contact your local MP and Senators and ask them to support migration policies that uphold fairness, family unity, procedural fairness and protection from exploitation.
Please call and write to your Government MP and Senators asking for them to reject these sweeping and harsh changes
Write to your MP
How do I write to my MP?
- Find your nearest Labor MP or Senator here.
- Given the urgency of making contact, please write an email and consider following up with a call to their office
What should I include in my email?
1. Introduce yourself and state that you live in the MP’s electorate or the Senator’s state/territory.
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 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:
- The government has proposed removing work rights for someone 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 may reduce procedural fairness in refugee protection decisions.
- 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 or Senator to:
- Oppose the removal of work rights for people seeking asylum.
- Support procedural fairness and 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
- Explain why the issue matters to you.
- Be respectful and constructive
- Focus on solutions
- Avoid aggressive or accusatory language
