Allan Asher, outspoken advocate of consumer rights for nearly 40 years, will present the eighth Lecture in the Series on Human Rights sponsored by Armidale Sanctuary Humanitarian Settlement Inc. on Thursday, March 29 at 5.30pm at The Hoskins Centre, The Armidale School, Armidale.
The subject of his talk will be “Refugees: People just like us”
As Commonwealth Ombudsman of Australia from 2010 to 2011, he made issues confronting immigration and poor treatment of asylum seekers two of his primary concerns. In 2011 he resigned after it was revealed that he provided questions for Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to ask him during a Senate committee hearing in May. The questions were intended to highlight inadequate funding for his office and problems with immigration detention centres.
Mr Asher has never feared speaking out and being provocative whether working in Australia or in England where he was the chief executive of Energywatch in 2008. His career has spanned 30 years working in around 100 countries.
One of the proudest moments of his career in the legal profession was taking a case against rogue insurance companies that were exploiting Aboriginal people in outback communities. The companies were forced to repay the premiums.
President of Armidale Sanctuary, Professor Helen Ware said she was delighted to have yet another distinguished Australian delivering the Eighth Lecture in the Series. Previous speakers have been Father Frank Brennan, the Rev Tim Costello, Julian Burnside QC, Dr Robin Jones, Helen Caldicott, the Hon. Michael Kirby and David Marr.
Everyone is welcome to attend – no need to book, just turn up on the day at the Hoskins Centre, The Armidale School – entry $10 at the door. Time 5pm for 5.30pm.
Armidale Sanctuary Humanitarian Settlement Inc. has been sponsoring and supporting refugees under the government’s humanitarian settlement program for the past nine years.
