Dear friend,

In recent weeks it’s been heartening to hear key politicians, including the independents, speak out against the offshore processing of asylum seekers [1]. Yet instead of looking for better solutions right here in Australia, our Prime Minister appears intent on offloading desperate people to one of the world's poorest countries, East Timor.

It's not just politicians in Canberra saying this is a terrible idea. We've spoken to a former asylum seeker who knows exactly what it's like to be so desperate to escape violence and persecution that her family risked everything on a crowded and unsafe boat to make it to Australia.

Click here to watch and share Najeeba Wazefadost's story - the story of a real refugee our Prime Minister doesn’t want you to hear

With the first session of parliament sitting in coming weeks, we have a narrow window of opportunity to steer our government's asylum seeker policy back on track. If the Government gets its way, refugees like Najeeba could be shunted out of sight and out of mind - away from Australian media, legal assistance and public scrutiny.

As Najeeba says, "asylum seekers who come to Australia are already emotionally and physically stressed. If they are put in places like East Timor they will be further broken down inside - it will be harder for them to continue with their lives."

Please get behind Najeeba's story and share it with your friends and family

Remember, real lives hang in the balance of this policy debate. Asylum seekers who come here by boat have exercised immense courage to search for safety and protection. I feel incredibly priveleged to know people like Najeeba, a medical science graduate with an ambition to care for the health of future generations of her fellow Australians.

With hope for a fairer Australia,

Graham Thom
Refugee Coordinator
Amnesty International Australia

[1] 'Labor 'lesser evil' on refugees', Sydney Morning Herald, 3 September 2010

'Independent MP Rob Oakeshott offers softer refugee stance', news.com.au, 24 August 2010