https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-17/asylum-seekers-accidentally-sent-letters-..."The Home Affairs Minister has said hundreds of letters "accidentally" sent to refugees and asylum seekers telling them to get out of the country were not appropriate and were sent without her knowledge.
The letters were posted and emailed to at least 490 refugees and asylum seekers in September and October, many of whom are living in the community on bridging visas.
Many are hoping for permanent settlement in Australia, having already spent years locked up in offshore detention.
One recipient was Kurdish man Farhad Bandesh, who said he boarded a boat to Australia almost a decade ago to flee persecution in Iran.
"Settlement in Australia is not an option for you … You are expected to progress other migration options," his letter stated.
Mr Bandesh's letter included a three-week deadline to "advise the department of your third country resettlement plan".
Mr Bandesh — whose seven years in detention included stints at Christmas Island, Manus Island, the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation and hotels in Melbourne — said he was stunned when he received the letter.
"I felt trauma again, honestly, because they were trying to move me to another place," he said.
The ABC understands many of the recipients, including Mr Bandesh, have not had any follow-up contact from authorities.
'Dear << INSERT NAME >>'
The ABC has seen several versions of the letters and emails, which tell recipients to consider resettlement in New Zealand, go to another country, or voluntarily return home."
Still holding on to the old ideas...... in order to go out accidentally, such a letter had to be in the pipeline ready to go....
Anyway - this raises the issue of whether or not people who choose or have no option but to attempt to arrive by boat are genuine refugees etc... actually - as we empaths already know - they have to have their refugee status determined, but by arriving on a boat, are still being excluded no matter how positive their vetting.
Minister - forget the beer and skittles - get on top of your job NOW! Don't you meet with department heads - those other wastes of space of mates' appointments etc?? You're not just there for the luxury run for life, you know, so you can retire with less super than a man, etc, etc, etc <<Insert Whine>> ....FFS....