A new book exposing the reality of the Nauru detention centre was launched in Melbourne of April 28.
The Undesirables, written by former Salvation Army worker Mark Isaacs, details what he witnessed while stationed at the camp.
Isaacs said: “When we first went to the camp … it was purposely disorganised, supposedly to meet these men’s needs. When the government sent several hundreds of people to Nauru, we expected it to be ready.”
He said there was access to medical services, no proper living conditions and many detainees suffered from being separated from their families.
Ex-detainee, Mohammed Ali Baqiri, now an undergraduate student at Victoria University, left Afghanistan to flee persecution.
He told attendees of the book launch that he was disappointed with this country’s treatment of innocent people: “We only come with hope to Australia…yet this government is not doing anything.”