The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre launches The Hot Potato project via Republic of Everyone
Republic of Everyone, has launched a new campaign for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) challenging Australia to 10 million conversations.
In an extremely ambitious people’s campaign in the lead up to the federal election, actor and activist Imogen Bailey is fronting The Hot Potato – a project designed to take the heat out of the conversation and debunk myths about asylum seekers.
Republic of Everyone has partnered with Heckler, Drifter and Catfish Media to deliver this one of a kind project.
“Everyone thinks agencies are all talk – and in this case they are right. We want to get the conversation going across the country, and make sure people know the facts about the situation and people they have already made up their minds about,” said Ben Akers, Creative Director of Republic of Everyone.
The customised Hot Potato van will travel through Victoria, NSW and QLD. The high visibility journey launches from Melbourne’s Federation Square today, August 13. At the Federation Square launch, ambassadors Julian Burnside, bishop Philip Huggins, Mark Seymour and Imogen Bailey will join the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s Jana Favero to discuss the myths and misinformation currently informing the asylum seeker debate.
Says Favero from the ASRC: “We are extremely excited for this creative approach to get people talking about this issue. We have all seen the politics of it – now it is time to get regular people to weigh in. Republic of Everyone has come up with an innovative way to get the conversation going. This campaign is a dream come true for the ASRC to humanise the asylum seeker debate with facts.
“The tour aims to cool a highly politicised debate with cold, hard facts. Imogen will be joined at various points in the campaign by high profile ambassadors including Julian Burnside, Gotye, Mark Seymour and others for media interviews, press calls and photo opportunities.
“Along the way, we meet a diverse range of communities and electorates, share the facts and allow people to change their minds for themselves. A documentary film crew will travel the route, documenting the Hot Potato tour in its entirety.”
Twitter: @ASRC1 with hashtag #thehotpotato
All sound by Rumble Studios – http://www.rumblestudios.tv
4 Comments
Thank you for finally telling the real story.
I am a 65yo Aussie that is so tired of the Govt’s lies
Well done
Food is the best was to start a conversation. I sent 12 years working as a chef and I can trace my love of food back to the Cambodian functions I used to attend with my family because my mum was an ESL teacher. Some of these people came on boats and they are people who have given allot to our country.
I’m Aussie first generation you don’t need to know my religion or the colour of my skin.
I’m Aussie I did not need to fight to be one but I respect anyone who does.
Thankyou for voicing what the normal people are thinking!!!
This is a fantastic initiative. I spent a day volunteering at the ASRC today and learnt soo much. There is a lot of mis-information about asylum seekers. It is time to have a real debate!