Archived Press Releases

Melbourne, Tuesday – Hunger- striking refugees have refused requests by guards to abandon their protest in the grounds of the MITA detention centre in Melbourne. “The guards have asked us to move inside, away from the outside area. We told them we are not moving, that we are determined to see this through until there is a resolution one way or the other,” one of the hunger-strikers said today. “Our bodies are getting weaker but we still feel very strong…

MEDIA RELEASE NO ADVANTAGE SCRAPPED – REFUGEE PROCESSING TO START ON NAURU The Nauru Director of the Department of Immigration has told a meeting of asylum seekers in the Nauru detention camp that their refugee assessments will begin “in about ten days.” The initial refugee assessments are expected to be finalised in around six months. Despite telling the meeting that he is speaking on behalf of the Nauruan government, the details of the processing reveals that the processing is totally…

Chilout members have been banned from visiting Manus Island. On 26th March Camapaign Manager Leila and staff from Get Up! were due to board a plane to PNG, headed to the Regional Processing Centre on Manus Island. After months of phone calls, emails and planning we regretably report that the trip is not possible. There is a ‘temporary ban on all international organisations visiting the centre’. Now, we learn we’re not the only ones barred from visiting, even Australia’s Human…

More than 300 asylum seekers on Nauru staged another protest Sunday (21 October) afternoon calling for refugee processing to begin immediately and for closure of the Nauru detention centre (see statement below). The protest on Nauru was timed to coincide with a protest in Melbourne calling for an end to offshore processing. During the protest, the asylum seekers called the UN to draw attention to their situation. The asylum seekers are very worried about moves to intimidate different groups inside…