More than 100 supporters of refugee rights rallied at Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Hospital on 13 February in support of medical staff who are refusing to discharge a 12-month-old refugee (known as Asha). The baby has received treatment for severe burns sustained while imprisoned at the Australian-run Nauru detention camp.
Doctors and nurses made the announcement on Friday 12 February. Since then, activists have held a vigil to show support for and solidarity with their actions.
Saturday’s demonstration aimed to highlight the hospital staff’s campaign and show solidarity with those pledging to “get in the way” of deportations. Speeches were made by the organisers of the rally and representatives of the Refugee Action Coalition, as well as Richard Kidd of Doctors for Refugees, Michael Clifford from the Queensland Council of Unions, the federal Labor member for Griffith Terri Butler (who was rightfully challenged by the audience to call for the detention centres to be shut down) and Pasha, a doctor who herself fled Afghanistan and came to Australia.
Clifford spoke about the commitment of the union movement to the #LetThemStay campaign and the refugee rights struggle, comparing the demonstration with one being held concurrently in Toowoomba by the racist, anti-refugee and anti-union United Patriots Front. All speakers called for attendees to rally support among their co-workers, friends and neighbours and to attend the vigil.
The vigil is intended to continue day and night until Asha and her family are allowed to stay in Australia. It is being planned and coordinated by a variety of organisations, with the Queensland Council of Unions and its affiliates showing considerable support.
The Queensland Nurses’ Union said that hospital facilities will be made available to those keeping vigil, while the Community and Public Sector Union said that hospital security will be liaising with the protesters throughout the night. They both pledged their members support for the vigil.
Another community solidarity rally will take place outside the hospital on Sunday 14 February at 12pm. The vigil is located at the Lady Cilento Hospital on the corner of Vulture and Graham Streets in South Brisbane. All are encouraged to attend.
