Border Force officers told meetings of medevac refugees this afternoon that the government’s contract with the Mantra Hotel was ended and they would be moved to another APOD (Alternate Place of Detention) – most likely another hotel prison.
“The move is pointless, and damaging” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “Five medevac refugees were released last week from Mantra and other detention centres; it is only a matter of time before the government will be forced to release everyone.
While Border Force officers mentioned the recent release of refugees telling the Mantra meeting, “Something’s happening in the Minister’s office, OK?” they appealed for refugees to cooperate with the move. But many are outraged and angry that the government is preparing another prison rather than setting them free.
This is just the latest in a long line of pointless and damaging transfers from one detention centre to another. The refugees resisted the forced transfer, when the Lombrum detention centre on Manus Island was closed in 2017.
“It is a waste of money and lives,” said Rintoul, “They should have been freed in 2017. There is no excuse for detaining them any longer. The government has taken more than seven years of their lives already. They need permanent visas and government support in the community to recover their health and start a new life.
“The government is vindictively punishing refugees and asylum seekers who were brought here under the Medevac legislation. They are being punished because Morrison lost the vote that introduced the Medevac laws. They should stop playing politics with their lives.
“It’s past time to end the abuse. It’s time to free them all.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
