Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker Neil Para Embarks on 1,000km Walk to Advocate for Refugee Rights

Neil Para, a Sri Lankan asylum seeker in Ballarat since 2013, has begun a 1,000km walk to petition Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for more inclusive refugee policies. Despite living in Australia for over a decade, Para and his family still face uncertainty regarding their permanent residency. Advocates for Dignity President Mehmet Saral supports Para, stating that denying him and his family permanent residence is “inhumane” and contradicts Australian values. Neil Para shared his journey with Advocates for Dignity, highlighting his family’s difficulties, including his Australian-born daughter Nive, who has unequal access to services.

SYDNEY, Australia—September 8, 2023—Neil Para, a Sri Lankan asylum seeker in Ballarat since 2013, is undertaking a 1,000km walk to Sydney. He aims to deliver a petition to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, urging a more compassionate approach to refugee policies in Australia.

Neil Para Speaks Out

In an exclusive discussion with Advocates for Dignity (AFD), Para said, “I’m a refugee who fled war and persecution in Sri Lanka, and I have lived in Ballarat, New South Wales since 2013. The government’s recent announcement has given permanence to 19,000 of us – but what about the rest? I’m one of the 10,000 others whose nightmare hasn’t ended. We are happy for our friends but tired of living in limbo for over a decade.”

Para also detailed the ambitions of his family, “I aspire to serve as a police officer, and my wife desires to work in the aged care sector. Our children are ambitious to become cardiac surgeons, psychologists, and lawyers.”

Family Struggles

His daughter Nive, born in Australia, had to wait 10 years to become an Australian citizen. Para lamented, “Even though Nive is now an Australian citizen, she doesn’t have the rights that other 10-year-old children have. Because I am not a permanent resident, Services Australia has advised us Nive should wait until she becomes 16 years old to access all services like any Australian citizen. It was a struggle to get her Medicare card.”

Advocates for Dignity Speaks Out

Mehmet Saral, the president of AFD, voiced his support for Para and his family’s quest for permanency in Australia. Saral stated, “As AFD, we support Mr Neil Para and his family’s permanency in Australia. Not giving him and his family the right to reside here permanently is inhumane and doesn’t represent the Australian value of giving a fellow human being a ‘fair go’.”

Growing Support and Petition

Neil’s petition has garnered more than 11,000 signatures and is gaining momentum. Various refugee advocacy groups and the public are encouraged to join him on the final leg of his journey through Western Sydney on September 8th and 9th.