About 200 people rallied in Melbourne for refugee rights on October 21. The Refugee Action Collective Victoria called the protest.
Michelle O'Neill from the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia told the rally: 鈥淚n reality, we are condemning asylum seekers to languish for indefinite periods of time. The effect of this on many asylum seekers will be extraordinarily severe psychological harm.
鈥漈he union movement thinks this is important because it is about justice and fairness and the sort of community we want to have. We need a genuine migration policy for people to move and work in Australia and get proper wages and conditions.鈥
Greens MP Adam Bandt said: 鈥淪ome of the world's most vulnerable people have been denied a safe passage. If we are a first world nation that has signed refugee conventions, let's abide by them. We should not try and deter people by taking away their rights."
The Refugee Action Collective has planned a Welcome BBQ for refugees at Maribyrnong detention centre on November 6 at 1pm, 53 Hampstead Rd, Maribyrnong.
Photos by Ali Bakhtiarvandi & Tony Iltis