On April 9, around 300 people marched on Broadmeadows detention centre to demand an end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers. The rally coincided with the 20-year anniversary of the introduction of mandatory detention.
Former detainee Ali Bakhtiavandi told the rally: “People are detained almost for a lifetime in an attempt to stop them coming to Australia. ASIO says they are a security risk. The only risk to Australians is from Gillard and Abbott.”
A detainee inside the detention centre addressed the crowd: “Thank you for coming to support us. The Australian government has no humanity in body or soul.” Sue Bolton from Refugee Action Collective said: “Police and government keep people away from asylum seekers because they know that contact leads people to see them as human beings.”