As a twenty-four-hour protest led by refugees reaches 100 days, the Human Rights Law Centre is calling on the Albanese Government to provide permanent visas to the 8,500 people who have been stuck in visa uncertainty and limbo for the last 12 years.

The Human Rights Law Centre stands in solidarity with the encampment and unequivocally supports their calls for visa equality for people failed by the former Coalition Government’s broken ‘fast-track’ refugee processing system. 

The protests, which began in Sydney and Melbourne, have spread nationwide putting pressure on the Albanese Government to end 12 years of limbo and uncertainty for around 8,500 people. 
 
On the hundredth day of protest, organisers will today be packing down the encampment but their calls for visa equality will continue.

Sanmati Verma, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, said:  

“For the past one hundred days refugees have led one of the longest-running refugee protests in Australia’s history, sleeping in the cold and rain outside the Department’s office to demand that people failed by the broken ‘fact-track’ process are afforded a permanent home. 

“The Albanese Government knows that the fast-track was unjust and unfair, it’s why they finally abolished it, but now they need the courage to provide permanent visas for those that were failed by it.  

“After 12 years of uncertainty, these people have the right to build a future for themselves and their families. The Albanese Government must afford them the dignity and security they are owed with permanent visas now.” 

Media Contact: 
Chandi Bates
Media and Communications Manager
Human Rights Law Centre
0430 277 254
chandi.bates@hrlc.org.au