By Jena Carr
Deputy Prime Minster Richard Marles’ two Geelong offices were targeted by different protest groups this week.
Police discovered Mr Marles’ Yarra Street office covered in red paint with messages such as “stop arming Israel” and “river of blood on your hands” by pro-Palestine supporters at 7am on December 14.
The incident followed a peaceful protest outside Mr Marles’ Brougham Street office that was supported by the Combined Refugee Action Group (CRAG) to raise awareness for people stuck in limbo due to the Fast Track refugee assessment system.
Protesters from 8am to 6pm from Monday December 11 to Friday December 15 to ask the defence minister to make a change.
The Fast Track system is the determination process for providing refugees and asylum seekers with visas in Australia.
Protester Ketheeswran Chitravel said he was currently in a transition position despite everyone else in his family, including his children, having been granted permanent residency in Australia.
“I have been granted impermanent residency, so my family can’t feel happiness,” he said.
“For the people who have been rejected and don’t have visas of their own, the department offers a great life with permanent residency’s so they need to fix the issue so people will be happier.”
Prathipan said he met with Mr Marles in July to discuss the issues of the Fast Track system and that he hoped to meet with the defence minister again to discuss potential solutions.
“We are waiting for 11 years to get a permanent residency, but we are like 11,000 people who are in limbo,” he said.
“We want to give a message to the minister that we want to get permanent residency as soon as possible…as we are mentally and physically affected by the issue.”
Another protester, who asked not to be named, said she had been living in the country for 12 years and had no current visa.
“I have a lot of medical problems and am suffering a lot of things, and I don’t know what to do. So, people need to be granted permanent residency visas so we can make a happy life,” she said.
Victoria Police is currently enquiring about the graffiti at Mr Marles’ Yarra Street office that happened overnight and had established a crime scene around the building on December 14.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Mr Marles was contacted for comment.
