Refugee supporters will join today’s (Thursday 9 April) “No one left behind” car convoy protest in Sydney.
At least two refugee-supporting cars will be part of the protest convoy crossing the Sydney harbour bridge to converge on the NSW Parliament House at 4.15pm.
The refugee activists are calling for the immediate release of all immigration detainees from hotels and detention centres, as well for all refugees and people seeking asylum who are on bridging, temporary protection and Safe Haven Enterprise visas (SHEV) to have financial support and be included in COVID-19 Job Keeper and Job Seeker Safety Net schemes and have access to Medicare.
“While the government claims that ‘We are all in this together,’ the reality is that refugees and asylum seekers are being left behind. Everyone must be included in the government’s support package. Everyone must be safe,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“The most vulnerable people need the most support. Refugees and asylum seekers on bridging and temporary protection visas who lose their job are being left destitute. At the time of the coronavirus, it is critical that everyone is able to readily access Medicare. Their health and public health demands they can get medical treatment when they need it, and they are financially supported if they need to self-isolate.”
HUNGER STRIKE IN VILLAWOOD AND BRISBANE DETENTION
The car convoy protest is taking place as more than 200 immigration detainees continue a hunger strike in Sydney’s Villawood detention centre and Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation calling for release, a coronavirus testing regime and greater protection measures inside the detention centres.
The hunger strike protest follows protests inside the detention hotels and detention centres over the last couple of weeks; the most recent being staged at the Kangaroo Point hotel in Brisbane.
“Although detention centres are recognised as being a ‘high-risk’ environment for the coronavirus, we are still waiting for the government to release immigration detainees,” said Rintoul, “The hotels are overcrowded. There is no possibility of social distancing. Guards come and go. They are not using even the most basic protection measures like masks and gloves. The risk of infection grows by the day.”
The protest hunger strike began on Monday. Most of the detainees have families in Australia that would provide them with accommodation.
A Melbourne car convoy of refugee supporters will be held outside the Mantra Hotel, Hotham Street, Preston, on Easter Friday, 10 April, 2pm.
For more information contact : Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
For convoy contact : Matilda 0415 220 616; Nick Riemer 0481 339 937
