Refugee rights protesters picket Ruddock

BY BILL MASON

BRISBANE — Around 40 refugee-rights activists picketed a Liberal Party cocktail lunch at the Irish Club on August 7. They were protesting the federal government's proposed immigration detention centre at Pinkenba, near the mouth of the Brisbane River. The lunch was being addressed by federal immigration minister Philip Ruddock.

Ruddock had to face a barrage of chants, calling for the closure of Australia's detention centres, as he entered the club building. Members of the Refugee Action Collective organised the protest.

There is increasing opposition against Ruddock's plan for a 200-550 bed medium-security detention centre at the Meeandah army stores site, near Pinkenba. Bayside Residents Against Toxic Sites president Margo Canavan, who was part of a delegation of residents which met Ruddock that day, said local residents would continue to oppose the camp.

Despite statements by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and other political leaders supporting the relocation of the centre to a regional area of the state, refugee-rights supporters are calling for any plans for a new detention centre to be scrapped.

From Green Left Weekly, August 13, 2003.

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From GLW issue 549