National

Sydney protesters call for refugee action

By AAP Newswire

Sep 18, 2022

SYDNEY REFUGEES RALLY — Hundreds of protesters have gathered for a "No-One Left Behind" refugee rally in Sydney. -AAP Image

Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside Sydney's Town Hall to demand permanent visas for refugees and asylum seekers on temporary visas.

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The demonstrators held handmade signs reading "Freedom for Refugees", "Born here but not seen as a citizen" and "Permanent visas for all".

Sunday's rally comes 12 days since more than 1500 refugees protested on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said more than 19,000 people are living in Australia on temporary protection visas or save haven enterprise visas.

He said another 10,000 have been refused a visa and are living on a precarious bridging visa.

"On election night Anthony Albanese said that under Labor 'No one would be held back, and no one would be left behind.' But refugees and asylum seekers are being left behind, and not just temporary visa holders in Australia," Mr Rintoul said.

"There are still 200 refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru and Papua New Guinea. And the coalition ban on accepting UNHCR refugees from Indonesia is still in place.

"Every day matters when you have been left in limbo for 10 years and families are separated."