The identity documents I have been given in Australia list me as ‘stateless.’ Because we have no country. Now, if I was to go back, they would put me in jail. Straight away. Because I am Rohingya. We are born in Burma but we have no documents. Before I left I would be put in jail. Sometimes for 10 hours. Because I had no documents. I don’t want trouble. I’m tired of trying to understand what is happening, of talking to the government, of trying to understand Centrelink. They ask me so many questions. I don’t understand. I just want to go to work, support my family and come home. I want a simple life. I don’t have a country. That’s why I came to Australia by boat. Twice we tried before we got here. Because I lost my family, I don’t have any country. And my wife was pregnant with our third child. What choice did I have? The journey was hard. I was put in jail when we were transiting in Indonesia. For three months. My wife and kids didn’t know where I was, they weren’t told anything. When we arrived in Australia, Immigration asked me “Why did you try two times to come here by boat?” “Why?” I responded. “I don’t have a country. I am trying to find a country because I don’t have a country.” I am old now, and I am still not a citizen. It has been too long to wait. My time is finished now, I only care about my children. The future is about my children. My dream is to buy a home for my family. For my family to live in safety. I’ve been here for ten years now and I still don’t have permanent protection. It is a long time. (December 2023) 98 Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness | Understanding Statelessness in Australia