Around 45 Medevac refugees have been released from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation and from the Park Hotel in Swanston Street.
The surprise releases follow the release of seven Medevac refugees last year.
“While it is very good news that the government has begun the release of refugees brought from Manus and Nauru for medical treatment, they should never have been held in detention in Australia,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “They should all be released immediately.
“But, as with getting the kids and families off Nauru, the government has only acted when it looked like court action was going to force them to free them from detention.”
The refugees are being released on bridging visas, with just three weeks accommodation provided for.
“After over seven years in detention, it is absurd for the government to expect the refugees to be self-sufficient. Many of them have not even had the medical treatment they were meant to get when they were brought to Australia.
“Refugees need the right to work, but they should have permanent visas and have accommodation and income support, access to training and classes to allow them to find their feet in the Australian community. The government still has a duty of care to the people they have held so long in offshore camps and in detention in Australia; they should not just be dumped,” Rintoul said.
“All the refugees in detention should be freed, and those still in PNG and on Nauru should be brought to Australia on permanent visas.”
More Medevac refugees are expected to be released tomorrow.
While some refugees approved for medical treatment prior to the repeal of the Medevac laws are still held offshore, yesterday (Tuesday 19 January) 18 refugees and asylum seekers were brought from Nauru to Australia for medical treatment. They are presently being held in Villawood detention centre in Sydney.
A major ‘Free the Refugees” rally is planned for Melbourne, on Saturday 13 February at State Library, 2pm (details below)
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713.
Melbourne Free the Refugees rally
Saturday 13 February at State Library, 2pm
Speakers include
Mostafa Azimitabar (Moz) – Kurdish refugee held in the Park Hotel
Farhad Bandesh – recently released Medevac refugee
Luke Hilakari – Secretary Victorian Trades Hall Council
Lidia Thorpe – Federal Greens Senator
Andrew Giles – Federal Labor MP for Scullin, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Tony Birch – writer, historian and activist
Craig Foster – football legend and #GameOver refugee advocate
(Call David on 0438 547 723 for more info.)
Photo: Matt Hrkac
