Minister slams ‘reckless’ protesters

The Health Minister has slammed “reckless” refugee rights protesters touting a “hug it out” message at their mass gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis.

THE Health Minister has slammed “reckless” refugee rights protesters touting a “hug it out” message at their mass gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis.

Steven Miles lashed the hundreds of protesters who gathered outside Kangaroo Point Hotel on Sunday where 100 men are being detained under Medevac laws.

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“That’s very reckless, there are lots of ways people can get their message across, lots of ways people can protest, that don’t involve putting themselves or other Queenslanders at risk,” Mr Miles said.

In pictures: Protesters rally at Kangaroo Point

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About 1000 protesters who initially gathered in Raymond Park yesterday afternoon descended on the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, shutting down the area for the second time in a week.

While the afternoon protest was relatively peaceful, a crowd of over 500 managed to overtake nearby Main St, forcing the normally busy inner-city road to be closed for several hours by police.

Protesters sit on Main St, blocking the road. Picture: Richard Walker

A police spokesperson confirmed to The Courier-Mail that one protester had been arrested Sunday night and taken to the city watch house.

It came after police raised concerns about another rally in the street last week, with a court order application to downsize any further action being approved on Friday.

“We are disappointed with the result but not deterred,” protest organiser Rilka Laycock-Walsh said earlier this week.

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri attended the rally. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

“We will continue protesting to demand the release of these innocent men by Christmas.”

Brisbane Greens councillor Jonathan Sri was also at Sunday’s rally, a week after he was arrested at the previous rally for allegedly contravening a direction of an officer. The charge was later dropped.

Earlier this week, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said there were about 100 men detained at the Kangaroo Point complex.

“They decide for themselves if they want to fully settle in PNG, in Nauru,” Mr Tudge said.

“If they haven’t got a refugee determination status they can return to their home country or indeed return to the United States.”

Originally published as Minister slams ‘reckless’ protesters