During World War II, my family attempted to flee German-occupied Europe and the Holocaust.
Countries, including Australia, turned away families like mine. I never thought I would see the day when Australia turned its back on people in need again and I'm determined to do everything in my power to ensure we don't repeat history's mistakes.
That's why I made this ad with GetUp. Will you help me put it on air?
www.getup.org.au/vote-for-compassion
Yours in hope,
Lillian, GetUp member
PS. [from GetUp] - Interested in volunteering with GetUp on election day? If you haven't already, register here: www.getup.org.au/volunteer
Lillian's story
If we let this election go by without speaking up for refugees, the race to the bottom will only get worse.
The first families, including seven children, have been shipped offshore to be processed in Nauru. They are just the first in a long line of innocent people that Australia will turn away because of Kevin Rudd's and Tony Abbott's "hardline" asylum seeker policies.
With your help, we can air this ad on TV screens across South Australia.
- Why is South Australia so important? -
South Australia has become a key battleground, as political parties grapple for control of the Senate.
Human rights organisations, the media and staff from GetUp have been denied access to Nauru and Papua New Guinea, because the centres are overseas and run by private companies. Only the Senate has the power to haul in the bureaucrats and contractors who run the detention centres, and compel them to answer questions.
Both major political parties support offshore processing of asylum seekers. Whichever of the two parties forms Government - one thing is for certain - we need to maintain a diversity of voices in the Senate to ensure strong scrutiny of asylum seeker policies. There is a real danger this could be lost if one party gains a rubber stamp majority in the Senate, putting the fate of asylum seekers at risk.
With help from GetUp members across the country, we aim to raise enough to make sure this ad is seen by 80% of South Australians at least three times before election day.
Will you help Lillian share her story to remind Australia why we should never turn our back on people seeking our help again?