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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/feb/04/let-them-stay-protesters-gather-around-australia-to-prevent-return-of-asylum-seekers-to-nauru
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| Let Them Stay: protesters gather around Australia to prevent removal of asylum seekers – as it happened | Let Them Stay: protesters gather around Australia to prevent removal of asylum seekers – as it happened |
| (12 days later) | |
| 8.48am GMT | 8.48am GMT |
| 08:48 | 08:48 |
| As sit-in protesters outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate office and at a major intersection in Melbourne’s CBD have settled for the evening so it’s time to wrap up our live coverage. | As sit-in protesters outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate office and at a major intersection in Melbourne’s CBD have settled for the evening so it’s time to wrap up our live coverage. |
| The protests in Perth are yet to come, scheduled for 6.30pm WST, or 9.30pm east-coast daylight savings time, at the Perth Immigration Residential Housing in Kanowna Avenue, East Redcliffe. | The protests in Perth are yet to come, scheduled for 6.30pm WST, or 9.30pm east-coast daylight savings time, at the Perth Immigration Residential Housing in Kanowna Avenue, East Redcliffe. |
| According to the Refugee Rights Action Network, Perth is currently home to a number of families who could be among those deported following the High Court decision, including a Syrian family with young children. All were brought to Perth for medical treatment. The protest will be held outside the front door of their detention centre. | According to the Refugee Rights Action Network, Perth is currently home to a number of families who could be among those deported following the High Court decision, including a Syrian family with young children. All were brought to Perth for medical treatment. The protest will be held outside the front door of their detention centre. |
| In brief: | In brief: |
| There will be another rally outside the Department of Immigration in Brisbane at 12pm Friday and at Nightcliff Pool in Darwin at 5.30pm on Monday. | There will be another rally outside the Department of Immigration in Brisbane at 12pm Friday and at Nightcliff Pool in Darwin at 5.30pm on Monday. |
| 8.41am GMT | 8.41am GMT |
| 08:41 | 08:41 |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| Husnia Hushang moved to Canberra on a student visa 3.5 years ago to do her masters at the Australian National University. The Afghan woman knows first hand why people choose to flee their home countries. | Husnia Hushang moved to Canberra on a student visa 3.5 years ago to do her masters at the Australian National University. The Afghan woman knows first hand why people choose to flee their home countries. |
| Ex Labor ACT chief min John Stanhope laments ALP's stance on refugees during #LetThemStay rally to cries of "shame!" pic.twitter.com/Rk7pTwh7DY | Ex Labor ACT chief min John Stanhope laments ALP's stance on refugees during #LetThemStay rally to cries of "shame!" pic.twitter.com/Rk7pTwh7DY |
| “Just last week, close to my home town, there was a suicide attack. Nine people died,” she said. | “Just last week, close to my home town, there was a suicide attack. Nine people died,” she said. |
| She talks of her family left behind in Afghanistan. Some are considering making the treacherous journey to Europe by boat. | She talks of her family left behind in Afghanistan. Some are considering making the treacherous journey to Europe by boat. |
| “They say to me, if we go by boat it is one time that we face the risk of dying, but every day in Afghanistan we face danger.” | “They say to me, if we go by boat it is one time that we face the risk of dying, but every day in Afghanistan we face danger.” |
| 4-yr old Zoe's mum brought her & her siblings to Canb rally to urge the govt to #LetThemStay @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/RqnsdAgpad | 4-yr old Zoe's mum brought her & her siblings to Canb rally to urge the govt to #LetThemStay @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/RqnsdAgpad |
| The opportunities to come to Australia the right way, through official channels, are few and far between, Hushang says. | The opportunities to come to Australia the right way, through official channels, are few and far between, Hushang says. |
| She attended the Canberra rally out of compassion for the families, particularly the young children, who face the “prison-like” conditions of indefinite detention. | She attended the Canberra rally out of compassion for the families, particularly the young children, who face the “prison-like” conditions of indefinite detention. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.51am GMT | at 8.51am GMT |
| 8.23am GMT | 8.23am GMT |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| Paul Karp is still at the sit-in outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth office. He spoke to People Just Like Us co -chair Joyce Fu, who says the group will stay until Malcolm Turnbull makes an announcement that the 267 asylum seekers can stay. If and when he makes that announcement, the protest will finish. Until then they’ll stay put “as long as we can”. | Paul Karp is still at the sit-in outside Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth office. He spoke to People Just Like Us co -chair Joyce Fu, who says the group will stay until Malcolm Turnbull makes an announcement that the 267 asylum seekers can stay. If and when he makes that announcement, the protest will finish. Until then they’ll stay put “as long as we can”. |
| Here’s Paul: | Here’s Paul: |
| She’s counting on reinforcements from Love Makes a Way and Grandmas Against Children in Detention and church groups. But it’s pretty lonely on the wind swept corner of New South Head Road and Edgecliffe Road where numbers are down to half a dozen. | She’s counting on reinforcements from Love Makes a Way and Grandmas Against Children in Detention and church groups. But it’s pretty lonely on the wind swept corner of New South Head Road and Edgecliffe Road where numbers are down to half a dozen. |
| Earlier, he spoke to the group’s other co-chair, Fabina Claridge. She said: | Earlier, he spoke to the group’s other co-chair, Fabina Claridge. She said: |
| Today we are here to have a vigil to protest to say “let them stay”: the children, families, brothers sons and husbands...even the single men are someone’s brothers and sons. They should be allowed to stay, they’ve suffered enough at out hands. | Today we are here to have a vigil to protest to say “let them stay”: the children, families, brothers sons and husbands...even the single men are someone’s brothers and sons. They should be allowed to stay, they’ve suffered enough at out hands. |
| There have been protests today to keep pressure up on politicians. It’s a sad day not just for asylum seekers and freedom in Australia but our court system which has allowed children and vulnerable young people to be sent back to Nauru. | There have been protests today to keep pressure up on politicians. It’s a sad day not just for asylum seekers and freedom in Australia but our court system which has allowed children and vulnerable young people to be sent back to Nauru. |
| 8.15am GMT | 8.15am GMT |
| 08:15 | 08:15 |
| In another development from Melbourne, Luke Hilakari, the secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, has announced that Trades Hall in Melbourne will open as a refuge for refugees. | In another development from Melbourne, Luke Hilakari, the secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, has announced that Trades Hall in Melbourne will open as a refuge for refugees. |
| This is Trades Hall. Cnr Lygon & Victoria St Melbourne. Refugees seeking sanctuary are welcome here #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/9UxpGxd3ql | This is Trades Hall. Cnr Lygon & Victoria St Melbourne. Refugees seeking sanctuary are welcome here #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/9UxpGxd3ql |
| Other union officials confirmed. | Other union officials confirmed. |
| NTEU Sec Colin Long: Trades Hall will be a refuge for refugees #LetThemStay | NTEU Sec Colin Long: Trades Hall will be a refuge for refugees #LetThemStay |
| It’s not clear how this would work - unlike the churches that have pledged to open their doors, Trades Hall does not have a historic power of sanctuary. Even churches may legal protection to provide sanctuary in Australia - the law has never been tested - but the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, after reminding people of this fact, confirmed earlier today that the government would not be “dragging people from churches”. | It’s not clear how this would work - unlike the churches that have pledged to open their doors, Trades Hall does not have a historic power of sanctuary. Even churches may legal protection to provide sanctuary in Australia - the law has never been tested - but the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, after reminding people of this fact, confirmed earlier today that the government would not be “dragging people from churches”. |
| 8.06am GMT | 8.06am GMT |
| 08:06 | 08:06 |
| In another quick reminder that the world is watching to see Australia’s response to this latest chapter in its rather awful treatment of asylum seekers, here is part of the statement Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made after the High Court handed down its decision yesterday. | In another quick reminder that the world is watching to see Australia’s response to this latest chapter in its rather awful treatment of asylum seekers, here is part of the statement Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, made after the High Court handed down its decision yesterday. |
| Central to the decision was a retrospective amendment to the Migration Act which was passed by the Australian Parliament shortly after the case was initiated and which validated the offshore processing of asylum seekers. We are concerned that this amendment, as well as broader aspects of Australia’s policy on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers arriving without prior authorisation, significantly contravenes the letter and spirit of international human rights law. | Central to the decision was a retrospective amendment to the Migration Act which was passed by the Australian Parliament shortly after the case was initiated and which validated the offshore processing of asylum seekers. We are concerned that this amendment, as well as broader aspects of Australia’s policy on the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers arriving without prior authorisation, significantly contravenes the letter and spirit of international human rights law. |
| Another reminder: the group in question, 267 people, includes 37 children born in Australia and more than 12 women and at least one child, a five-year-old boy, who have allegedly been raped on Nauru. | Another reminder: the group in question, 267 people, includes 37 children born in Australia and more than 12 women and at least one child, a five-year-old boy, who have allegedly been raped on Nauru. |
| Colville again: | Colville again: |
| We believe that transferring these 267 individuals to Nauru could further damage their physical and mental health, and would put Australia at risk of breaching its obligation not to return any person to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under the Convention against Torture. Moreover, sending these children to Nauru could contravene Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We remind Australia that children, regardless of their legal status, have the right to be treated as children first and foremost, and urge Australia to ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child takes precedence over migration management or administrative considerations. | We believe that transferring these 267 individuals to Nauru could further damage their physical and mental health, and would put Australia at risk of breaching its obligation not to return any person to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under the Convention against Torture. Moreover, sending these children to Nauru could contravene Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We remind Australia that children, regardless of their legal status, have the right to be treated as children first and foremost, and urge Australia to ensure that the principle of the best interests of the child takes precedence over migration management or administrative considerations. |
| (...) | (...) |
| We therefore urge the Australian Government to refrain from transferring all concerned individuals to Nauru. | We therefore urge the Australian Government to refrain from transferring all concerned individuals to Nauru. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.48am GMT | at 10.48am GMT |
| 7.52am GMT | 7.52am GMT |
| 07:52 | 07:52 |
| Getting reports that the rally in Melbourne, which began at the State Library on Swanston Street, has stopped trams and became a sit-in. | Getting reports that the rally in Melbourne, which began at the State Library on Swanston Street, has stopped trams and became a sit-in. |
| Bourke st at standstill for the #LetThemStay call to #auspol Free the Refugees NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/OhcMerGrgT | Bourke st at standstill for the #LetThemStay call to #auspol Free the Refugees NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/OhcMerGrgT |
| Sit down protest bourke and exhibition #LetThemStay #melbourne pic.twitter.com/Q9t6MfSZ2x | Sit down protest bourke and exhibition #LetThemStay #melbourne pic.twitter.com/Q9t6MfSZ2x |
| According to comedian and trainee human rights lawyer Corrine Grant the sit-in has taken over the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets, near the Liberal Party headquarters. She reports that “thousands of people” are still arriving and joining in. | According to comedian and trainee human rights lawyer Corrine Grant the sit-in has taken over the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets, near the Liberal Party headquarters. She reports that “thousands of people” are still arriving and joining in. |
| Crowd for Melbourne #LetThemStay is massive. Stretching down bourke from exhibition to swanston. | Crowd for Melbourne #LetThemStay is massive. Stretching down bourke from exhibition to swanston. |
| Massive sit in right on the intersection of Bourke and Exhibition near Lib headquarters. 1000's still pouring in from Swanston #LetThemStay | Massive sit in right on the intersection of Bourke and Exhibition near Lib headquarters. 1000's still pouring in from Swanston #LetThemStay |
| 7.38am GMT | 7.38am GMT |
| 07:38 | 07:38 |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| Pakistani-born NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi spoke to Guardian Australia outside electoral office: | Pakistani-born NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi spoke to Guardian Australia outside electoral office: |
| People are here today to give a loud and clear message to Malcolm Turnbull that if he has any vestige of decency and compassion in him he must rule out sending people - women, men, children, babies - back to the prison jails of Nauru. | People are here today to give a loud and clear message to Malcolm Turnbull that if he has any vestige of decency and compassion in him he must rule out sending people - women, men, children, babies - back to the prison jails of Nauru. |
| It was incredible to see hundreds of people from all walks of life gathered today. According to international law Australia must provide safety for asylum seekers. But what the Lib-Nat govt and ALP have done is condemn asylum seekers to a life of persecution in the countries they are fleeing or the horror and abuse in offshore detention centres. What the community said today is they will not back down they will not rest until Australia changes its laws from the cruel and inhumane to one’s that provide safety for refugees. | It was incredible to see hundreds of people from all walks of life gathered today. According to international law Australia must provide safety for asylum seekers. But what the Lib-Nat govt and ALP have done is condemn asylum seekers to a life of persecution in the countries they are fleeing or the horror and abuse in offshore detention centres. What the community said today is they will not back down they will not rest until Australia changes its laws from the cruel and inhumane to one’s that provide safety for refugees. |
| 7.35am GMT | 7.35am GMT |
| 07:35 | 07:35 |
| My colleague, Paul Karp, is at a sit-in (well, stand-in, currently) outside the prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate office in Sydney. | My colleague, Paul Karp, is at a sit-in (well, stand-in, currently) outside the prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate office in Sydney. |
| 'People Just Like Us' and @MehreenFaruqi at Turnbull's Wentworth electorate office #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/ckCH72wOrD | 'People Just Like Us' and @MehreenFaruqi at Turnbull's Wentworth electorate office #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/ckCH72wOrD |
| Co-ordinated by group People Just Like Us, the protesters plan to stay put until Turnbull confirm the 267 people currently forcing deportation can stay in Australia. This is from co-convener Joyce Fu: | Co-ordinated by group People Just Like Us, the protesters plan to stay put until Turnbull confirm the 267 people currently forcing deportation can stay in Australia. This is from co-convener Joyce Fu: |
| We invite you all to come, stay, and keep coming until our demand is met. Come with your placards and banners. Bring food, water, wet-weather gear, tents, and sleeping bags. Be prepared to stick around. | We invite you all to come, stay, and keep coming until our demand is met. Come with your placards and banners. Bring food, water, wet-weather gear, tents, and sleeping bags. Be prepared to stick around. |
| You can follow along or offer support here. | You can follow along or offer support here. |
| 7.23am GMT | 7.23am GMT |
| 07:23 | 07:23 |
| Hello, Calla Wahlquist here taking over from Elle Hunt. I’m on the lawn next to the Melbourne #LetThemStay rally at the State Library of Victoria and it is LOUD. More than 5,000 people chanting “Let them stay” will do that. | Hello, Calla Wahlquist here taking over from Elle Hunt. I’m on the lawn next to the Melbourne #LetThemStay rally at the State Library of Victoria and it is LOUD. More than 5,000 people chanting “Let them stay” will do that. |
| Do send me your stories from rallies around Australia on twitter @callapilla. | Do send me your stories from rallies around Australia on twitter @callapilla. |
| While the Melbourne crowd is enormous, there are smaller rallies taking place in Adelaide, Bendigo, and Newcastle at the same time. | While the Melbourne crowd is enormous, there are smaller rallies taking place in Adelaide, Bendigo, and Newcastle at the same time. |
| In Adelaide, where Reverend Sandy Boyce, Deacon of Pilgrim Uniting Church, told the Adelaide Advertiser she was prepared to be jailed to provide sanctuary for refugees who faced being sent back to Nauru, several hundred people have gathered on the steps of Parliament house. A second rally is planned for Rundle Mall at 4pm Friday. | In Adelaide, where Reverend Sandy Boyce, Deacon of Pilgrim Uniting Church, told the Adelaide Advertiser she was prepared to be jailed to provide sanctuary for refugees who faced being sent back to Nauru, several hundred people have gathered on the steps of Parliament house. A second rally is planned for Rundle Mall at 4pm Friday. |
| #LetThemStay Parliament House #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/UoMdpuxbTy | #LetThemStay Parliament House #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/UoMdpuxbTy |
| At the Adelaide rally #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/D3aDp8xjzG | At the Adelaide rally #letthemstay pic.twitter.com/D3aDp8xjzG |
| Bendigo and Newcastle both have slightly smaller crowds, but then they are slightly smaller cities. Protesters in Newcastle braved the rain to protest the possible deportation of 37 babies and their families, while protesters lined Bendigo’s Rosalind Park. | Bendigo and Newcastle both have slightly smaller crowds, but then they are slightly smaller cities. Protesters in Newcastle braved the rain to protest the possible deportation of 37 babies and their families, while protesters lined Bendigo’s Rosalind Park. |
| Good early turn out & lots of traffic tooting support for #Bendigo #LetThemStay @vanbadham @Kon__K @HelpRefugeesOZ pic.twitter.com/S9W3TIZQxQ | Good early turn out & lots of traffic tooting support for #Bendigo #LetThemStay @vanbadham @Kon__K @HelpRefugeesOZ pic.twitter.com/S9W3TIZQxQ |
| Torturing children is not a solution #LetThemStay #Newcastle https://t.co/u7x0ufRcPL | Torturing children is not a solution #LetThemStay #Newcastle https://t.co/u7x0ufRcPL |
| Victoria Jack, whose tweet we included above, spoke to the Newcastle Herald ahead of this afternoon’s rally: | Victoria Jack, whose tweet we included above, spoke to the Newcastle Herald ahead of this afternoon’s rally: |
| “When it comes to kids, people are united. There’s momentum building. | “When it comes to kids, people are united. There’s momentum building. |
| “Unfortunately, [offshore processing] seems to be one of the reasons the government was elected. And I think that gives it strength, that bipartisanship.” | “Unfortunately, [offshore processing] seems to be one of the reasons the government was elected. And I think that gives it strength, that bipartisanship.” |
| You can read that full story here. | You can read that full story here. |
| 7.05am GMT | 7.05am GMT |
| 07:05 | 07:05 |
| While the Melbourne crowd protesting deportation of asylum seekers is in the thousands, the turn-out in Canberra has fairly quickly swelled to 300, according to my colleague Shalailah Medhora – about the same size as that which marched in Sydney after noon. | While the Melbourne crowd protesting deportation of asylum seekers is in the thousands, the turn-out in Canberra has fairly quickly swelled to 300, according to my colleague Shalailah Medhora – about the same size as that which marched in Sydney after noon. |
| Ex Labor ACT chief min John Stanhope laments ALP's stance on refugees during #LetThemStay rally to cries of "shame!" pic.twitter.com/Rk7pTwh7DY | Ex Labor ACT chief min John Stanhope laments ALP's stance on refugees during #LetThemStay rally to cries of "shame!" pic.twitter.com/Rk7pTwh7DY |
| Crowd at Canberra #LetThemStay rally swells to 300. @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/3htnBhb29Y | Crowd at Canberra #LetThemStay rally swells to 300. @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/3htnBhb29Y |
| I am handing over the live blog to my colleague in Melbourne, Calla Wahlquist, who tweets at @callapilla, if you’d like to share with her your experiences of the protests this evening. | I am handing over the live blog to my colleague in Melbourne, Calla Wahlquist, who tweets at @callapilla, if you’d like to share with her your experiences of the protests this evening. |
| Thanks for following along during the day. We’ll have more coverage of the high court’s ruling and the reaction to it on Guardian Australia in the coming days – and, doubtless, weeks. | Thanks for following along during the day. We’ll have more coverage of the high court’s ruling and the reaction to it on Guardian Australia in the coming days – and, doubtless, weeks. |
| 7.00am GMT | 7.00am GMT |
| 07:00 | 07:00 |
| Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
| Andrew Baker, Brittany Attard, Margot Williams, Kristy Anderson and Trish Phillips. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dsRGjXNh4y | Andrew Baker, Brittany Attard, Margot Williams, Kristy Anderson and Trish Phillips. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/dsRGjXNh4y |
| Andrew Baker holds a picture of daughter instead of a protest sign. | Andrew Baker holds a picture of daughter instead of a protest sign. |
| “She is six. I don’t think any children should be in detention,” he said. | “She is six. I don’t think any children should be in detention,” he said. |
| “The past three years she has helped wrap presents for children in detention. It just makes me so sad that there are children just like her in detention.” | “The past three years she has helped wrap presents for children in detention. It just makes me so sad that there are children just like her in detention.” |
| Brittany Attard is at the protest by accident - she arrived at the State Library in Melbourne for a quiet afternoon reading her book, saw the gathering crowd, and got swept up. | Brittany Attard is at the protest by accident - she arrived at the State Library in Melbourne for a quiet afternoon reading her book, saw the gathering crowd, and got swept up. |
| “Someone handed me a sign and I am holding it proudly,” she said. | “Someone handed me a sign and I am holding it proudly,” she said. |
| Margot Williams, Kristy Anderson and Trish Phillips are old hands at campaigning for the humane treatment of Australian refugees. All three work with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne, and described Turnbull’s response to the issue as “shameful”. | Margot Williams, Kristy Anderson and Trish Phillips are old hands at campaigning for the humane treatment of Australian refugees. All three work with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne, and described Turnbull’s response to the issue as “shameful”. |
| “Malcolm Turnbull says that we have to keep our borders safe from 37 little babies - it’s just a disgrace.” | “Malcolm Turnbull says that we have to keep our borders safe from 37 little babies - it’s just a disgrace.” |
| 6.57am GMT | 6.57am GMT |
| 06:57 | 06:57 |
| Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
| Brenna Thompson and son Joel visit families kept in community detention in Broadmeadows. #letthemstay #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/e5QUYXHE6h | Brenna Thompson and son Joel visit families kept in community detention in Broadmeadows. #letthemstay #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/e5QUYXHE6h |
| Brenna Thompson’s son Joel is friends with children who face being returned to Nauru following Wednesday’s high court decision. The pair visit families at the Broadmeadows detention centre in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Joel is only 19 months old, but Thompson says he knows what’s going on. | Brenna Thompson’s son Joel is friends with children who face being returned to Nauru following Wednesday’s high court decision. The pair visit families at the Broadmeadows detention centre in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Joel is only 19 months old, but Thompson says he knows what’s going on. |
| “Just after we leave often he turns to me and tells me the names of the children and even the adult, and he says ‘sad’. He picks up on what’s going on there,” she said. | “Just after we leave often he turns to me and tells me the names of the children and even the adult, and he says ‘sad’. He picks up on what’s going on there,” she said. |
| “It’s absolutely devastating. I have sat with these parents and discussed those normal parenting issues - not being able to get babies to sleep, feeding issues. You speak to them and they are human, they are not a political issue, they are not invaders, they are well-educated, beautiful people. | “It’s absolutely devastating. I have sat with these parents and discussed those normal parenting issues - not being able to get babies to sleep, feeding issues. You speak to them and they are human, they are not a political issue, they are not invaders, they are well-educated, beautiful people. |
| “We leave them and we look at them through the little glass panel on the door and the kids smile and wave and the parents stand there and cry. You just want to bring them with you. | “We leave them and we look at them through the little glass panel on the door and the kids smile and wave and the parents stand there and cry. You just want to bring them with you. |
| “It’s not a political issue, they are our friends. It’s heartbreaking to think that they could be sent back. | “It’s not a political issue, they are our friends. It’s heartbreaking to think that they could be sent back. |
| Thompson’s husband, James, summarised it thus: “It’s fucked.” | Thompson’s husband, James, summarised it thus: “It’s fucked.” |
| “One of the babies that might be sent back, I have fed him,” he said. “I have given him his bottle. It’s just fucked.” | “One of the babies that might be sent back, I have fed him,” he said. “I have given him his bottle. It’s just fucked.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.02am GMT | at 7.02am GMT |
| 6.53am GMT | 6.53am GMT |
| 06:53 | 06:53 |
| More than 20 police on foot plus eight mounted. I'm a fan of the ponies but this seems excessive. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/Uil6TBDZbn | More than 20 police on foot plus eight mounted. I'm a fan of the ponies but this seems excessive. #LetThemStay pic.twitter.com/Uil6TBDZbn |
| My colleague Calla Wahlquist at the protest in Melbourne. She estimates that there’s at least 3000 people there – a significant increase on the number that made it out in Sydney, though to be fair that was in the middle of the day and worse weather – so many that she can’t see the speakers. | My colleague Calla Wahlquist at the protest in Melbourne. She estimates that there’s at least 3000 people there – a significant increase on the number that made it out in Sydney, though to be fair that was in the middle of the day and worse weather – so many that she can’t see the speakers. |
| There’s also a fairly significant police presence, with more than 20 officers on foot plus eight mounted. | There’s also a fairly significant police presence, with more than 20 officers on foot plus eight mounted. |
| She’s spoken to some protesters about what’s brought them out this afternoon. | She’s spoken to some protesters about what’s brought them out this afternoon. |
| The grandmothers: Berris Falla, Christine Moffat and Dorothy Page. #letthemstay #melbourne pic.twitter.com/nN71g9FGLU | The grandmothers: Berris Falla, Christine Moffat and Dorothy Page. #letthemstay #melbourne pic.twitter.com/nN71g9FGLU |
| Purple-clad Berris Falla, Christine Moffat and Dorothy Page were at the epicentre of a gaggle of similarly dressed grandparents representing Grandmothers Against The Detention of Refugee Children. All joined the organisation about 12 months ago in response to reports from Nauru. | Purple-clad Berris Falla, Christine Moffat and Dorothy Page were at the epicentre of a gaggle of similarly dressed grandparents representing Grandmothers Against The Detention of Refugee Children. All joined the organisation about 12 months ago in response to reports from Nauru. |
| “The average temperature on Nauru is 46 degrees - no children should be forced to live there,” Page said. | “The average temperature on Nauru is 46 degrees - no children should be forced to live there,” Page said. |
| “It was a legal decision by the High Court, but Malcolm Turnbull has a moral decision not a legal decision to make.” | “It was a legal decision by the High Court, but Malcolm Turnbull has a moral decision not a legal decision to make.” |
| Moffatt appealed to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to think of his own grandchild Jack when deciding whether to return 37 babies born in Australia to offshore detention camps. | Moffatt appealed to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to think of his own grandchild Jack when deciding whether to return 37 babies born in Australia to offshore detention camps. |
| “Previously, Malcolm Turnbull has said one child in detention was one child too many. If he is true to his word he has to let them out,” she said. “He was happy to have his grandchild in the paper on the day he was elected. How would he feel to see his grandchild in detention?” | “Previously, Malcolm Turnbull has said one child in detention was one child too many. If he is true to his word he has to let them out,” she said. “He was happy to have his grandchild in the paper on the day he was elected. How would he feel to see his grandchild in detention?” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.57am GMT | at 6.57am GMT |
| 6.50am GMT | 6.50am GMT |
| 06:50 | 06:50 |
| 4-yr old Zoe's mum brought her & her siblings to Canb rally to urge the govt to #LetThemStay @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/RqnsdAgpad | 4-yr old Zoe's mum brought her & her siblings to Canb rally to urge the govt to #LetThemStay @mlle_elle @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/RqnsdAgpad |
| 6.50am GMT | 6.50am GMT |
| 06:50 | 06:50 |
| More than 50 agencies and individuals from the child and family welfare sector in Victoria have released an open letter calling on the government “to end the indefinite detention of babies, children and their families who are seeking asylum in our country – and, as a matter of urgency, halt the transfer of families to Nauru”: | More than 50 agencies and individuals from the child and family welfare sector in Victoria have released an open letter calling on the government “to end the indefinite detention of babies, children and their families who are seeking asylum in our country – and, as a matter of urgency, halt the transfer of families to Nauru”: |
| “The sector stands united against this policy, which causes untold harm to children and young people and is a clear breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Australia is a signatory. | “The sector stands united against this policy, which causes untold harm to children and young people and is a clear breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Australia is a signatory. |
| “We urge Prime Minister Turnbull to show compassion by releasing children and their families into the Australian community, where they can live freely and safely, while their claim for protection is considered.” | “We urge Prime Minister Turnbull to show compassion by releasing children and their families into the Australian community, where they can live freely and safely, while their claim for protection is considered.” |
| 6.48am GMT | 6.48am GMT |
| 06:48 | 06:48 |
| What does the high court’s ruling mean? My colleague Ben Doherty published this analysis yesterday: | What does the high court’s ruling mean? My colleague Ben Doherty published this analysis yesterday: |
| High court decisions are not football matches: it’s not always clear who has won and by how much. | High court decisions are not football matches: it’s not always clear who has won and by how much. |
| The full bench’s decision in M68 does uphold the government’s right to send asylum seekers to foreign countries to be detained. The court found the action is lawful under the constitution and empowered by the extraordinary breadth of a newly inserted provision in the Migration Act. | The full bench’s decision in M68 does uphold the government’s right to send asylum seekers to foreign countries to be detained. The court found the action is lawful under the constitution and empowered by the extraordinary breadth of a newly inserted provision in the Migration Act. |
| But the court’s decision is no blank cheque. All seven judges explicitly ruled that the commonwealth can’t simply detain people offshore for as long as it likes. | But the court’s decision is no blank cheque. All seven judges explicitly ruled that the commonwealth can’t simply detain people offshore for as long as it likes. |
| Nor can it ask a foreign government to incarcerate people indefinitely on its behalf. | Nor can it ask a foreign government to incarcerate people indefinitely on its behalf. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |