Rally marks seven years of refugee detention

BALLARAT Rural Australians for Refugees rallied peacefully last Monday on Lydiard and Sturt Streets, to mark seven years of detention for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.

Outside Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King’s office and beside the Burke and Wills Explorers Fountain for one hour, between 10 and 15 protesters aimed to bring attention to the situation of refugees and asylum seekers.

Ballarat RAR member, Merle Hathaway said those detained “have been in limbo for so long.”

“The group strongly believes it is time to end the harm caused by indefinite detention, to free the refugees and bring those still in Papua New Guinea and Nauru to Australia,” she said.

“In our current pandemic crisis, many are experiencing serious mental health concerns from the isolation and disconnection from friends and family. Imagine being locked up for seven years with no possibility of freedom, merely for seeking refuge from warfare or persecution.

“For many years Ballarat RAR has supported people in long-term detention, visiting detention centres, and providing financial and other assistance for people living in the Ballarat community with little or no means of support.”

Across the two locations, protesters were compliant with social distancing rules and had no more than 10 people gathering together.

Visit facebook.com/BallaratRAR for more information about the group.