Rudds government plans to use  the desperate need for cheaper housing to subsidise capitalist investors and "skills shortages" as excuses to expand the importation of more indentured workers for the construction industry.

Message from a mother in Lombok where the husbands and fathers have been taken 400 kilometres away to a prison to force these families to agree "voluntarily" to go back to Afghhanistan.

An urgent call has been made to pressure the Immigration Minister, Senator the Hon. Christopher Evans, to act supportively to Afghan asylum seekers who have been warehoused in Indonesia since 2001. This number includes families and children who have waited 6 long years for protection. Some were on boats which the Australian Navy pushed back and some registered with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and waited and waited.....

Related: Message from a mother in Lombok | The Story behind the Lombok Asylum Seekers | With Kidnapping and Electric Sticks | Eureka Street - Howard Mandarins capturing Labor Ministers by Tony Kevin

The Finnish Chancellor of Justice is currently investigating for
possible irregularities and discriminatory treatment after the Swedish
School of Social Science released documents relating to their decision
to reject an internationally renowned SPACEPOL expert's candidacy for a
limited track researcher position. According to SPACEPOL CEO Gunnar K.
A. Njalsson, the released documents expose a process of candidate
evaluation riddled with inconsistencies and lack of academic integrity.

The Howard Government has remained silent on refugee issues this election with much of the electorate tired of the lies, half-truths and distortions on refugee issues, and the xenophobia and fear mongering from previous elections. A report Card on asylum seeker and refugee issues by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has given the Liberal Party an F-minus score, with Labor fairing a little better with a C-minus score with positive policies to end the 'Pacific Solution', end Temporary Protection Visas, end the indefinite detention of asylum seekers, and to restore Australia's migration zone. Both the Greens and the Democrats scored A-plus for positive policies on all asylum seeker issues.

Australian Citizanshit test ...Kevin Andrews, the Australian Immigration Minister was speaking this morning at a conference in Melbourne's Hotel Sofitel, which seemed a good occasion for public spirited citizens to lend a hand with the drive to enrol new citizens ... They came with a specially prepared test - given in full below - and those who passed were rewarded with a genuine vegemite sandwich, nicely warmed in the Spring sunshine. There was also plenty of zinc cream on hand in case a change of colour was needed. (Watch video at engagemedia.org)

As well as the test, passers-by were also handed copies of a recent rebuttal of Kevin Andrews claims issued by the African Think Tank.

African Think Tank is concerned that statements on African refugee matters by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews are not consistent with facts and/or with the reality experienced by the refugees, and therefore do not present a complete, fair and/or reasonable account in the public domain.

A Chinese man in Australia for the last ten years and held in immigration detention for the last 4 years, is to be deported September 12, based upon an unsigned undated warrant lacking vital information issued by China, and despite a UN Human Rights Committee request to stay his removal pending their investigation.

Latest News: Chinese man awaiting deportation now in Bankstown Hospital ...

“To send this man to China against the UN request would place Australiain breach of the International conventions and put us alongside thosehuman rights violating countries who have no standing and respect in the world community” said Pamela Curr of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC). “Does this government want to go into an election with blood on its hands?”

"Advocates are heartsick about the fate of three men sent back to China", says Pamela Curr of the ASRC. "We have heard nothing from these men, we do not know if they are dead or alive. Because of the grave risk of yet another disappearance, a UN Human Rights Communication was sought to stay the removal of a fourth man on Monday. This was successful." says Curr.