Hundreds rally in Sydney against Nauru High Court ruling in wake of report into traumatised child detainees
Updated
Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the Department of Immigration in central Sydney calling on the Federal Government not to deport almost 270 asylum seekers to Nauru.
It was the first in a series of protests planned around the country today in response to Wednesday's High Court ruling that Australia's offshore detention at Nauru and Manus Island is legal.
The judgment cleared the way for 267 asylum seekers, including more than 30 babies, who were brought to Australia for medical treatment, to be returned to Nauru.
Protester Kay Ashton said she was ashamed of the Government's treatment of asylum seekers.
"They're just destroying people's lives," she said.
"We are just calling on them to reverse it, show some gumption, show some leadership for goodness sake."
Former immigrant Angelika Treichler said she was shocked at the Government's policy.
"I'm very, very upset that this country I've chosen to live in is now carrying out such a cruel, cruel policy. I can't believe it in fact," Ms Treichler said.
The case was launched by a Bangladeshi detainee on Nauru who was brought to Australia for treatment and later gave birth to her daughter in Brisbane.
Lawyers for the woman argued it was illegal for the Australian Government to fund and operate detention centres in a third country.
During the High Court case the Government changed the law to close a loophole in the funding arrangements, which it feared could be undermined by the challenge.
Yesterday, a majority of the court's bench found the current government arrangements were valid under the constitution.
Protester Rod Yule said the Government was failing in its obligation to protect children under their care.
"I think it's contravening their international obligations to look after the most vulnerable, to look after asylum seekers who are coming to Australia looking for refuge and protection," Mr Yule said.
"I'm disappointed in Turnbull and the Australian Government for failing to fulfil their obligations."
It's not just young activists, it's people of all ages, mothers and families and older people and it shows, I think, that there is a groundswell of moral opinion against the Government.
Tom Kiad, Sydney protester
More than 50 of the 70 children who are at risk of being forcibly sent to Nauru are being held at Wickham Point Detention Centre in Darwin.
Today, Australian Human Rights Commissioner Professor Gillian Triggs released a report on the findings of two doctors who interviewed 69 families with children at Wickham Point.
The report found children were being seriously damaged by being held in detention, and the doctors treating them described the children as the most traumatised they have seen in 50 years.
Professor Elizabeth Elliott and Dr Hansantha Gunasekera, who assessed the children, recommended that under no circumstances should any child detained on the mainland be sent to Nauru.
Protester Tom Kiad implored the Government to be upfront on whether the children will be sent back to Nauru.
"I am disgusted that the Government has, not only prosecuted this case in the High Court, but on winning ... they haven't yet said that they're not going to send the babies and children back to Nauru," he told the ABC.
"They probably know that they're doing the wrong thing and I think that they should have the courage to say so."
Mr Kiad said the diversity of the Sydney rally showed the public's opposition was widespread.
"It's not just young activists, it's people of all ages, mothers and families and older people and it shows, I think, that there is a groundswell of moral opinion against the Government," Mr Kiad said.
Topics: refugees, immigration, human, government-and-politics, sydney-2000
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