Refugee groups rally for asylum seekers outside Emma Husar’s office

The Blue Mountains Refugee Support Goup, Grandmothers for Refugees and Rural Australians for Refugees placed 12 chairs outside MPs offices to signify the 12 people who have died at detention centres at Manus Island and Nauru.

Refugee support groups rally against detaining refugees at Manus Island and Nauru and call on Emma Husar to change Labor's policy on the matter. Picture: Danielle Jarvis

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Refugee support groups have rallied outside the offices of federal Labor MPs protesting the detention of refugees and asylum seekers at Manus Island and Nauru.

Members of the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group, Grandmothers for Refugees group and Rural Australians for Refugees group protested outside Macquarie federal Labor MP Susan Templeman’s Windsor Office and moved to Lindsay federal Labor Emma Husar’s Penrith office.

The 12 chairs respresenting the 12 people who have died in detention centres. Picture: Danielle Jarvis

They placed 12 chairs and 12 shoes - representing the 12 men who have died in the detention centres in the last four years - along the wall outside Ms Husar’s office on Thursday.

“We’ve placed 12 chairs, 12 pairs of shoes and flowers to represent the 12 men who have died on Manus and Nauru in the last four years,” Blue Mountains Refugee support group member Kathie Herbert said.

“Some by suicide, some by murder and some by lack of appropriate healthcare.”

The group held a 30 second silence for each of the 12 people who had died in detention centres. Picture: Danielle Jarvis

Ms Herbert said the main purpose of the protest was to see Labor’s policy change.

“We would like Emma to help change Labor policy from within,” Ms Herbert said.

“Because unfortunately labor policy is pretty much in step with liberal policy.

“We would like Emma and Susan Templemen in the adjoining electorate to help change Labor policy so that we have a humane way of treated refugees and asylum seekers who are seeking our help.”

Refugee support groups call on Emma Husar to change Labor's policy on the matter. Picture: Danielle Jarvis

The day of the protest, marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of Manus and reopening of Nauru Detention Centres.

Rural Australians for Refugees member Joy Connor said it was an important message for residents.

“We just feel it’s really important that we bear witness to the fact that there is a way to make sure we’re not flooded with every refugee on the planet and that we can deal with it in a kindly and sensible fashion.

“But instead of that we’re making peoples’ lives hell and they are dying from it. And when they’re not dying they are being scarred forever.”

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