We, the undersigned, are concerned for the welfare of asylum seekers of East Timorese background. Many of these people have lived in our community for up to ten years, their children go to school here, they work beside us in our work places. They have integrated well into our society and live peacefully among us. They are family people and many of them are aged with close family ties here. Most of them have nothing to return to in East Timor no homes, no jobs, no security and no hope of financial support from impoverished family and friends.

In acknowledgement of the persecution and suffering they endured before leaving East Timor, and their commitment and contribution to the Australian community since coming here, we request the intervention of the Minister for Immigration to grant them permanent residency in Australia on humanitarian grounds by means of a special Visa.