On Sunday morning, about 40 people from Armidale Rural Australians for Refugees gathered in Central Park to protest against the refugee processing camps in Nauru and Manus Island, and sign letters to each candidate in the coming Federal Election.
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The letters requested the candidate's position on ending offshore processing, the humane treatment of refugees, ending mandatory, indefinite detention, supporting family reunions and the establishment of a regional processing system.
... we still have families separated from each other in most unwholesome circumstances.
- Elizabeth O'Hara
Spokesperson Elizabeth O'Hara said the Armidale group joined with Australians from across the nation in an attempt to change the situation some refugees found themselves in.
"We have a situation that is really unconscionable, and our political leader are refusing to accept responsibility for this," she said.
"We're here to - plead - I guess, with the politicians who are about to be making very serious, ongoing decisions about our refugees and asylum seekers, to stop this current travesty of treatment of people.
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"Where people are being locked up for nine years without any hope of resolution of their situation, we still have families separated from each other in most unwholesome circumstances."
Mr O'Hara said the country was in a very significant time.
"We do have opportunities now to look at the policies of independents and those parties that do sponsor the situation of change, leading into the Federal Election," she said.