Salam El Merebi---- ---------------- - ---
Qld Democrats Candidate for Rankin

Email: Salam.ElMerebi@qld.democrats.org.au
Ph: 0447 723 366

Salam was born in Lebanon and spent her first 15 years growing up in Saudi Arabia. Her Lebanese parents moved to Australia under the skilled migrant programme 5 years ago. Salam has 5 younger brothers and lives with her family in Runcorn.

Salam completed Year 12 at Macgregor State High School, then went on to gain a Diploma in Youth Work, Certificate in Mental Health Work (non-clinical) and Juvenile Justice. She is now completing a Bachelor of Human Services at the Queensland University of Technology.

Although young, Salam is a passionate participant in several community organizations. She is a member of the Muslim Community Reference Group and is the female youth representative for the Al-Nisa Youth Group where she has been a board member ever since it first started.

She is the Chair person of the Human rights sub-group and a board member of AMARAH (Australian Muslim Advocates for the right of All Humanity); a board member of FGFP (Fair go for Palestine), STWC (Stop the war Collective), SSJ (Social Students for Justice), and a youth representative on the MSMPRG (Metropolitan South Muslim Police reference group).

"My goals and passions are to try to voice the issues of young Muslim Australian youth in the Australian community. I want to raise awareness about human rights and Islam in mainstream Australian society - awareness and understanding will start to demolish the idea of "racism" and discrimination against minority groups such as Aboriginals and Muslims."

Salam has helped to organise peaceful rallies and demonstrations against the war in Iraq and against anything that jeopardizes human rights. She is a confident and passionate public speaker at these events.

"I oppose the Howard government's stand on Aboriginal issues - these policies are totally unfair - I see minority groups such as Muslims, the Aboriginal people and the Sudanese community being scapegoated again for this Federal election.

"I believe Australia can be so much better - I'd like to see a real democratic country that does not build its economy and laws on racism - a country that respects and treats everyone equally, a country that implements positive social policies, a country that values the individual worth of everyone, a country that respects its Indigenous Heritage and people, a country that values multiculturism.

"I believe the Democrats share my vision for this country and I know that Senator Andrew Bartlett has worked very hard for these goals. I have nominated as a candidate to support his work, and I hope Queenslanders who share our vision will support Andrew's re election too."