Highland activists held a peaceful protest in Moss Vale to mark the fifth anniversary of the reintroduction of Australia's controversial offshore processing policy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rural Australia for Refugees convenor Maree Byrne said the protest was a chance to advocate on behalf of refugees without a voice in the ongoing debate.
“The Australian government policy is just inconsistent with how our community has responded to our protest today," said Ms Byrne.
The protest was held in Leighton Gardens and spurred a lot of interest from onlookers and those driving past, many honking and waving in a show of support.
“To be an asylum seeker is your right to seek protection, to be covered by international law and our government is not acknowledging that,” said activist David délSole.
According to the Refugee Action Coalition there are 1600 asylum seekers who remain on Nauru and Manus Island, around 140 are children.
“I find it horrifying that our government continues a policy to indefinitely imprison people who have committed no crime but to seek freedom and safety. I think we can do a lot better as a nation," said activist Louise Bell.
RAR member and media liaison Sarah Lewis said the Moss Vale protest was held in concurrence with many other RAR protest events occurring across the country this week.
"I think today is a great opportunity to shine a light on this issue, that still continues after all these years," Ms Lewis said.
