Support for asylum seekers at Leichhardt public forum

Julian Burnside QC. Photo - Ben Raue

More than 250 people attended the public forum on asylum seekers last week, organised by Jamie Parker and Senator Lee Rhiannon.

Keynote speaker Julian Burnside QC said that after a short detention period of 30 days for basic security and health checks, asylum seekers should be released into the community while their claims are being processed.

Asif Mohsini, a young refugee from Afghanistan, spent 13 months in Curtin Detention Centre and spoke of the psychological effects of mandatory indefinite detention, including depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Local refugee advocate Frances Milne said under the current government no ministerial intervention requests were successful. Jamie hosted the forum and will continue campaign to end mandatory detention.

Related Links:

Human costs of delayed detention – Inner West Independent, 3 November, 2011