HUMAN rights abuses, climate change and animal welfare will be discussed at an Indian Ocean conference to be held in Fremantle this month.

Caroline Fleuy and Lisa Hartley at the Centre of Human Rights Education at Curtin University are amongst the speakers. The pair will present their findings that asylum seekers living in Australia waiting for claims to be processed are battling stress, fear and huge mental health strain.

They put the stress down to the former Labor government’s no work rights policy for asylum seekers on bridging visas arriving after August 2012, who instead must rely on a government payment of $220 per week that must cover rent, food and other living costs.

“We spoke to 29 people living in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne who are living in the community but don’t have rights to work,” Dr Hartley told the Herald.

“It means they are isolated and stuck in their homes because they can’t even afford public transport,

“It is difficult to get exact numbers from the government but it seems there are 20,000 people in similar situations enduring mental stress because of the situation.

“They are either subject to a policy of mandatory detention or are detained in Australia unable to do anything to fill their days.

“We believe it is important the voices of those most affected by government policies are heard.”

As many asylum seekers move through the Indian Ocean region, the panel will also discuss the legal, political and social issues they face as they seek refuge. The conference is at the Esplanade Hotel March 25 to 28 and will cover a range of topics under the banners of culture, sustainability and security.

by CLARE KENYON