By Benjamin Millar
A group of church leaders was arrested and removed from the office of Opposition Leader and Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten on Monday after seeking the immediate release of children from immigration detention.
The leaders were among two groups of Christians staging simultaneous sit-in prayer vigils at the Mr Shorten’s Moonee Ponds office and the Sydney office of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Uniting Church’s Reverend Alistair Macrae, who took part in the sit-in at Mr Shorten’s office, called on the two major parties to end bipartisan support for offshore detention.
“Through our peaceful direct action we seek to challenge the government’s cruel approach to the treatment of asylum seekers and encourage other Australians to embrace a more welcoming response to those who seek asylum here,” he said.
Sit-in participants included Catholic and Anglican priests, a nun, Baptist pastors, Uniting Church ministers and lay church leaders.
Williamstown Uniting Church minister Avril Hannah-Jones said she joined the
protest because the church had a responsibility to speak out about the issue of asylum seekers.
“We’re prepared to be arrested because we are committed to children being released from detention,” she said.
She said police removed the protesters about 7pm and had not ruled out the possibility of charges being laid.
The protesters have secured a meeting later this week with Labor immigration spokesman Richard Marles.
Meanwhile, Labor MP Melissa Parke plans
to move a motion at a May 27 caucus meeting that Labor “shall no longer support the transfer of asylum seekers by Australia to Manus Island or Nauru and shall call for the detention centres in those places to be closed down forthwith”.
Mr Shorten would not comment on the protest, but he reaffirmed support for offshore detention.
“The Regional Resettlement Arrangement implemented by Labor remains the most effective policy in stopping people from putting their lives at risk by making the dangerous journey to Australia by sea,” he said.
“In terms of processing, Labor believes asylum seekers must be treated in a humane and dignified manner while being accommodated in a safe environment.”
Gellibrand MP Tim Watts said he welcomed debate about more humane treatment of
asylum seekers but would not support the motion.
“Under the previous Labor government, every effort was made to ensure the safety and well-being of children in immigration detention,” he said.
