As the refugee crisis of Syria worsens, the Town of East Fremantle and the City of Fremantle have come together to welcome refugees to the Fremantle area.
East Fremantle Mayor Jim O’Neil and Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt have called on the Federal Government to consider using Leeuwin Barracks, located in East Fremantle, to house incoming refugees.
“Fremantle recently became a Refugee Welcome Zone and with Premier Barnett pleasingly stating that WA would be willing to take 1,000 refugees from Syria, I know the people of Fremantle would like to assist by making refugees welcome in our community,” mayor Pettitt said.
“This is a global refugee crisis,” said mayor O’Neill. “We can’t stand by while this situation gets worse. No single country can solve the crisis, but as one of the world’s richest countries, Australia should do it part and East Fremantle is proud to make a stand for this.”
The East Fremantle and Fremantle mayors have jointly written to the Premier with this request.
The Leeuwin Barracks in East Fremantle previously housed 370 refugees from strife-torn Kosovo in 1999.
