MELBOURNE — Victoria University of Technology will play host to the inaugural meeting of a newly formed refugee rights campaign. Refugee Action Collective (West) will be based in Melbourne's western suburbs to meet the growing calls from local residents to close the Maribyrnong detention centre.

Daniel Moya, a member of RAC (West), explained the reason for the group's formation “As a resident of Footscray, I am appalled that some of my neighbours live in what can only be described as a concentration camp”.

Moya expects broad support for the group's aim to close the detention centre.

“Australia has some of the worst refugee laws in the First World, and we have noted more and more people are prepared to take a stand against this”.

Organisers acknowledge that the initiative has come too late for some. In December, refugee Villiami Tanginoa died in the Maribyrnong detention centre while protesting his deportation. But Moya said that the tragedy has only spurred on refugee supporters, who are determined that nothing like that should ever happen again.

The inaugural meeting will include personal testimony from refugees and brainstorming sessions for future campaign ideas, including proposals for a Footscray community rally in the lead-up to a June 3 national day of action for refugee rights.

The meeting is to be held May 10, Thursday 7pm at the Nicholson Street campus (room D223 Hoadley Building). For further information please call Daniel on 9362 7886 or Arun on 9689 9867.

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