Refugee Action Collective Queensland RAC

Refugee Action Collective QLD 2026 04 30 Mark Gillespie

Mark Gillespie from the Refugee Action Collective speaking at a protest against Labor’s visa entry ban bill, which has been used to strip away visas of Iranians planning to travel to Australia.

Refugee Action Collective QLD 2026 04 30 Mark Gillespie

Refugee Action Collective QLD 2026 04 30 Seal Chong Wah

Seal Chong Wah, Greens councillor for Paddington speaking at a protest against Labor’s visa entry ban bill, which has been used to strip away visas of Iranians planning to travel to Australia.

Refugee Action Collective QLD 2026 04 30 Seal Chong Wah

Open borders to Iranians
End Labor's shameful Iranian entry ban
End deporations to Nauru
Protest today (30th April) outside Department of Home Affairs Brisbane(Magan-djin)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/28/angus-taylor-iran-bad-country-comment

Angus Taylor’s claim that Iran is a ‘bad country’ erases the courage of those who resist the regime at all costs | Nos Husseini Australian opposition leader’s comments reveal he is unable to tell the difference between authoritarian regimes and the people forced to live under them

Refugee Action Coalition

Media Release (28.04.2026)

REFUGEE ADVOCATES SAY NO TO ANGUS TAYLOR’S RACISM AND NO TO LABOR’S IRANIAN VISA BAN

Refugee advocates have condemned Liberal leader, Angus Taylor’s comments over the weekend that called for excluding visa applicants from ‘bad countries’.

"There is real risk with people coming from those countries", Taylor said, while suggesting that Iran and Gaza are among such bad countries.

While Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, was critical of Taylor’s comments, they are explicit support for Labor's six-month ban on entry to Australia by Iran temporary tourist visa holders, announced in March.

“Labor’s ban and Taylor’s racism must be opposed,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “While Tony Burke was grandstanding over Labor granting asylum to Iran women footballers, they have slammed the door on other Iranians who might need protection. It is Labor’s refuge-bashing policies that are giving legitimacy to the Liberals and One Nation.”

Taylor has already announced enhanced Trump-like policies for law enforcement agencies to track down, arrest and deport non-citizens who have exhausted their legal appeals to stay in the country, but Labor’s deportation laws are already being used to deport non-citizens, inclusion refugees to indefinite exile in Australia’s offshore gulag, Nauru.

There are around 82 Iranians held in Australian detention centres. Hundreds of Iranian asylum seekers are also trapped in Indonesia, denied protection by Australia’s ban on accepting refugees from Indonesia. Iranians still being held in PNG and Iranians who were brought to Australia after being detained on Manus and Nauru in 2013 are still being denied permanent visas.

“Labor’s entry ban is a violation of Australia’s human rights obligation to Iranian asylum seekers. Labor must open Australia’s borders, and provide permanent protection” said Rintoul.

In Brisbane, the Refugee Action Collective is holding a protest, “No to Labor’s Visa Ban, Welcome Iranian Refugees”, 12.00 noon, Thursday 30 April, at Department of Home Affairs, 299 Adelaide Street, Brisbane