Hundreds marched through the CBD streets on October 22 to show support for refugees who are demanding permanent visas.
The action was organised on the 100th day of a 24/7 encampment that began on July 15 outside the office of then-Home Affairs minister Clare O’Neil in Oakleigh and later shifted to the Home Affairs department in Docklands.
To the accompaniment of drums, refugees called for permanent visas for more than 9000 refugees who have been living on temporary visas for more than 12 years after their claims for refugee status were rejected under the flawed “fast track” process.
Participants included refugees, including many Tamils and their children, refugee rights groups, Palestinian activists, trade unionists, activists from the housing justice campaign, socialist parties and the Greens.
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Rathy Barthlote, a Tamil refugee on a bridging visa, told the rally that Labor had recognised that the “fast track” process was unjust, yet was not offering a solution.
Tom Orsag, a retired building worker and a member of the Construction Forestry Mining Employees Union, said refugees’ lack of permanent residency makes it easier for employers to use them as cheap labour.
Caterina, a United Workers Union organiser who works with farm workers, said that secure visas are a union issue, along with secure jobs and wages.
Tamil refugee Prasanth, Aboriginal activist Oscar Martin, Palestinian activist Tasneem and Kon Karapanagiotidis from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre also spoke.
The refugees plan to continue the campaign with a rally on November 9, 2pm, at the State Library.
A group of refugees continues to camp outside the office of Labor MP Julian Hill in Dandenong.
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