Sydney rally against Nauru policies

Photos courtesy Siobhan Marren

In response to the Federal Government’s deportation of an asylum-seeker baby to Nauru, a snap rally was held on Tuesday at Sydney’s Town Hall square. Organised by GetUp, the event took place one day before new legislation came into effect that bans doctors and teachers of asylum seekers on Nauru from commenting on conditions.

Addressing those who attended the rally was Rev. Dr. Brian Brown, a former moderator of the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW & ACT. Mr Brown said the Government’s treatment of asylum seekers had ironically oame after the Apology to the Stolen Generations and the Royal Commission into institutional responses to the abuse of children.

“For God’s sake, why are we still doing this?” he simply asked. Mr Brown also described as”disingenuous rubbish”  the argument stated by Federal Attorney-General George Brandis that our Federal Government is not responsible for the treatment of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island.

“Why are you and the Opposition trying to silence doctors and teachers?” he also asked of Mr Brandis.

Mr Brown called for the Christian church to be louder on the issue, but he commended the efforts of the Love Makes A Way group.

Speaking about those attending the rally, Mr Brown said they understood the concern for asylum seekers’ well-being at sea. But “what we don’t understand is why this compassion dissolves (after the asylum seekers arrive).”

Jonathan Foye