81 Kids Are Still Locked Up - Who Cares?

81 Kids Are Still Locked Up - Who Cares?

It is now 3 months past the HREOC deadline and there are still 81 children locked in secure detention centres in Australia and Nauru.

ChilOut supporters, dressed in black, will be showing that THEY CARE in Pitt St Mall tomorrow lunchtime.

Pro-refugee speakers will address lunchtime shoppers. Merlin Luck from "Big Brother", James Mathison from "Australian Idol" and a few other surprise celebrities will be there. Country/Folk’s master lyricist Pat Drummond will perform his song, "Who Is that Refugee?”

This event is also incorporating today’s National Day of Shame about indefinite detention, with Baxter detainee Peter Qasim beginning his 7th year of detention today. Senator Nettle will speak about Peter Qasim’s plight.

Date: Friday 10th September

When: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Where: Pitt St Mall, between King and Market Sts, Sydney

Speakers: The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence MP, National President of the Australian Labor Party, and Member for Freemantle; John Valder, former National President of the Liberal Party; Senator Aden Ridgeway, Australian Democrats; Senator Kerry Nettle, Australian Greens; Mr Reese Malcolm, lead candidate for NSW, Australian Progressive Alliance; Dr Bijou Blick, child health professional

Background:

On June 10, four weeks after the Human Rights Commissioner’s report was tabled in Parliament, ChilOut protested at the continued detention of 162 children in contravention of the Commissioner’s recommendation that ALL children be released within four weeks. 1000 people attended this protest.

Chilout continues to mark each passing month that children remain in detention.

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