Tamil people and their supporters rallied on January 20 against the detention of 46 refugees who have been held for years even though they have been recognised by the Australian government as genuine refugees.
Most of these refugees are Tamils from Sri Lanka. They are being held because they have negative security assessments by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Negative ASIO decisions have, in effect, condemned these refugees to a life sentence.
Organiser Aran Mylvaganam said: "These people fled persecution of the Sri Lankan state. This is an attempt by the Australian government to silence people against speaking out against the genocidal policies of the Sri Lankan Government. We must not be silent."
The protests were part of an international day of action.