Sheelagh Blanckenberg
27th November 2009, 01:22 PM
Dear all
I sent the following email on the 14 Nov to Andrew Bolt of the Herald Sun re the GSM debacle:
________________________________________
From: S Blanckenberg
Sent: Saturday, 14 November 2009 2:10 PM
To: Bolt, Andrew
Subject: Immigration Minister's changes to GSM programme leave many in limbo
Andrew
Love your blogs! More power to you.
Would you be interested at all in writing about the plight of thousands of potential (legal) migrants to Australia from around the world who have been left in limbo by Chris Evan’s Jan 09 and Sep 09 legislative changes?
See following online forum for the anger and dismay felt by many: http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/70325-what-would-you-say-minister-immigration-really.html and there are many other outpourings on forums like Poms In Oz.
Peter Mares from ABC National Radio had an interview with the Minister about this yesterday. See the Migration Help forum for details - http://forum.migrationhelp.com.au/showthread.php?t=451
An online petition to the Minister has also been set up - http://www.gopetition.com/online/31230.html .
In my opinion the retroactive changes fly in the face of natural justice.
To leave hundreds of people out of pocket to the tune of thousands of dollars after paying for visa application fees, skills assessment fees, and medical checks and then advise that even if DIAC have not touched an application, refunds of application fees will not be countenanced, is highway robbery, morally and ethically wrong, and a blight on our nation! (I don’t suppose they are using the windfall in their coffers to help fund the illegal boat arrival debacle?)
Thanks for your time.
Sheelagh Blanckenberg
I sent the following email on the 14 Nov to Andrew Bolt of the Herald Sun re the GSM debacle:
________________________________________
From: S Blanckenberg
Sent: Saturday, 14 November 2009 2:10 PM
To: Bolt, Andrew
Subject: Immigration Minister's changes to GSM programme leave many in limbo
Andrew
Love your blogs! More power to you.
Would you be interested at all in writing about the plight of thousands of potential (legal) migrants to Australia from around the world who have been left in limbo by Chris Evan’s Jan 09 and Sep 09 legislative changes?
See following online forum for the anger and dismay felt by many: http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/70325-what-would-you-say-minister-immigration-really.html and there are many other outpourings on forums like Poms In Oz.
Peter Mares from ABC National Radio had an interview with the Minister about this yesterday. See the Migration Help forum for details - http://forum.migrationhelp.com.au/showthread.php?t=451
An online petition to the Minister has also been set up - http://www.gopetition.com/online/31230.html .
In my opinion the retroactive changes fly in the face of natural justice.
To leave hundreds of people out of pocket to the tune of thousands of dollars after paying for visa application fees, skills assessment fees, and medical checks and then advise that even if DIAC have not touched an application, refunds of application fees will not be countenanced, is highway robbery, morally and ethically wrong, and a blight on our nation! (I don’t suppose they are using the windfall in their coffers to help fund the illegal boat arrival debacle?)
Thanks for your time.
Sheelagh Blanckenberg