Dr Kerryn Phelps, AMA President, Opening of the Bula Bula Health Project, An Initiative of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Footscray

We are here to salute an effort to supply a basic human right to people who have been cut adrift recently - people who have been made pariahs in the name of divisive politics.

Australia has long been a destination for asylum seekers - people fleeing war, persecution, horrors that Australians could not imagine.

Historically, we have displayed humanity in our treatment of asylum seekers and I am sure we still do - it is the rhetoric and the opportunism that has taken a turn for the worse.

To pinch an often-used phrase - the recent characterisation of asylum seekers in our community has been un-Australian.

We have all been affected by the events of September 11.

Nevertheless, it is wrong to assume that asylum seekers have any connection with terrorism or espionage.

Many have endured extreme hardship to get here. They want a life, a better life.

Those who satisfy the Government requirements should be allowed to stay. Those that don't should return to their countries of origin if it is safe for them to do so.

They should not be demonised. The people smugglers who trade in human cargo should be.

There is no doubt that the events and experiences that have brought these asylum seekers to our shores have led to depression, helplessness, hopelessness, and ill-health.

They are strangers in a strange land unfamiliar with the language, the customs, the laws, the system. What they need is hope, help…and a home.

We, as health professionals, cannot fix all the problems but we can provide them with health care while their cases are processed.

Today we pay tribute to dedicated professionals giving their time and skills for free to provide medical and allied health services to these asylum seekers.

They are doctors and nurses and other health workers who want to make a personal contribution to assist people seeking to start a new life.

The AMA has not entered this debate overnight. For some time, we have been outspoken on the health of asylum seekers and children in detention.

In June last year, one of our Brisbane members drew our attention to what was happening - or not happening - with the health of asylum seekers in the community - especially those people without Temporary Protection Visas.

We were appalled at what we heard. These people were being treated like non-people, as if they had no basic human rights.

We went public with our concerns and made the following calls on the Government:

• All asylum seekers living in the community should be given work rights and access to basic health care until their refugee determination process has been fully completed.
• In the absence of Medicare access, Asylum Seekers Assistance (ASA) Scheme funding be expanded to cover all health care costs for pregnant women, families with children, those requiring torture- and trauma-counselling, and anyone requiring hospital admission.
• Commonwealth/State agreements on health care provision allow hospitals to provide free care for ineligible asylum seekers on humanitarian grounds.
• Children of asylum seekers being permitted to attend school for their educational and social development.
• Persons applying for asylum be referred to a chest clinic early in the application process, to exclude active tuberculosis.

Last August, I had a meeting with Immigration Minister, Phillip Ruddock.

I told him the AMA sought the provision of immunisation for children of asylum seekers in the community and tuberculosis screening for detainees and asylum seekers in the community.

We sought emergency care for asylum seekers in the community, and primary medical care for children of asylum seekers in the community.

And we wanted to see expedited tribunal hearings for asylum seekers in the community with children and those in need of medical attention but with no entitlement to Medicare.

No joy there.

But there is considerable joy here today.

If the Government won't act, it is encouraging to see that others will, including the health professionals gathered here today.

I congratulate all involved in this project for their vision, their compassion, and their human decency.

We can only hope that through your efforts we can do our bit to turn the tide of public opinion on asylum seekers. The least we can offer them is a 'fair go'.

It is in our nature to help people in need - it is the Australian way. I now declare the Bula Bula Health Project open.

Thank you.