A call for more support for refugees from Afghanistan has been recognised by Senator Bridget McKenzie after a vigil was held outside her Wodonga office this week.
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Members of the Indi branch of Rural Australians for Refugees gathered at Senator McKenzie's High Street post on Thursday to share the difficulties Afghans face since the takeover by the Taliban in September.
Many families in Indi sponsor Afghans to assist with humanitarian visa applications, including vigil organiser Bernadette Fraser.
She was delighted to learn Senator McKenzie would take the time to meet with the group at a time to be confirmed.
"Since the takeover by the Taliban, many of these Afghans, often Hazara people who are already hated and persecuted by the Taliban, are being targeted because they worked with Australians and other allied employers," Ms Fraser said.
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"They're seen as enemies of the state, even though the work they were doing was basically enabling the rights and freedoms we take for granted here in Australia.
"We complied with all current COVID restrictions and we could only have a maximum of 10 at the vigil."
Ms Fraser and past national RAR president Marie Sellstrom met with member for Indi Helen Haines who has contacted Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke on behalf of all the 26 Indi-sponsored vulnerable Afghan families.
"This group of people has been largely forgotten by the Australian government and Australians don't often know about them," Ms Fraser said.
"We felt that because there's so many rural and regional Victorian sponsors, as constituents in Senator McKenzie's jurisdictions, we really wanted to have a chat with her about the program.
"We're not asking her to do anything beyond her means, but we wanted to ask her how she could help.
"The staff at Wodonga contacted Senator McKenzie's Canberra staff and she will meet with us, which we think is fantastic."
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