Former Bendigo Advertiser journalist Ben Doherty – now with the Guardian Australia – Nick Olle of The Project, barrister Julian Burnside, Pamela Curr of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and refugee poet Hani Abdile will be among the guest speakers at the national Rural Australians for Refugees’ One Voice; One Vision conference in Bendigo.

The conference aims to unite refugee advocates across the country to discuss practical strategies of joining forces across regional Australia to combat what organisers describe as the “horrific language our political parties have used to try and sweep the issue under the carpet”.

“There has never been a more important time for refugee advocates to be heard,” Rural Australians for Refugees Bendigo  spokesperson Marie Bonne said.

“Both major political parties have closed their ears and their eyes to these desperate people, all in the name of politics.

“This government has spent billions of dollars on hiding the boats, including spending $55m resettling only four asylum seekers in Cambodia.

“Why isn’t this sort of financial waste a big scandal?

“Because our voice is not loud enough – that can’t happen any longer.”

Jan Govett of the Central Victorian Refugee Support Network said after being in recess, Rural Australians for Refugees had realised the time to speak up and unite had never been greater.

“People are dying in horrific conditions in Nauru, Manus Island and in Australia, because our politicians are putting their jobs ahead of desperate peoples’ lives,” she said.

“This needs to stop. With both major parties lacking any decency, we are doing something about it.

“We are bringing some of the best minds in Australia to Bendigo for this.”

Ms Govett said the group would also be launching a national ‘welcome scroll’, which would travel around Australia, and end up at the office of the prime minister.

The conference will be held on September 3 and 4.