The Edmund Rice Centre, with a long background in working with people from the Horn of Africa , including refugees from Sudan, strongly rejected the Immigration Minister’s decision to reduce the African intake in Australia’s humanitarian visa program.

Today the Edmund Rice Centre mourned the death of David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party and key figure in the Easter Agreement.

A delegation of Catholic organisations who have taken up the concerns of low-lying Pacific Nations was overwhelmed by the response they received this week from a meeting with the federal Labor Opposition, organised by Shadow Ministers Anthony Albanese and Bob Sercombe. Other Shadow Ministers, MPs and advisers also attended.

Phil Glendenning, Director of the Edmund Rice Centre, today sent the names of two Afghani asylum seekers, and three children of asylum seekers, who have been killed since their return from Australia to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. This includes three names in addition to the two people who the Centre confirmed had died earlier this week.

The reconciliation movement lost one of its greatest champions with the passing of Rick Farley, director of the Edmund Rice Centre, Phil Glendenning said today.