A number of refugees transferred from Manus and Nauru for medical treatment have recently been released from hotel prisons across the country, many of whom have been in inhumane detention conditions for up to 8 years. This is shameful. Refugees should never have been in detention. Even more shameful is the fact that the Australian government only released these refugees to save face – ahead of court action for their release.

The fight is far from over. Around 150 Medevac refugees remain in hotel prisons and detention centres. There are still over 250 refugees stuck on Nauru and PNG with little prospect of resettlement. The Biloela Muragappan family and their two children remain detained on Christmas Island, having spent two and a half years in detention.

And once released, refugees are only provided three weeks of accommodation. Whilst they have work rights, refugees are ineligible for income support. This means that refugees are in the absurd situation of having only three weeks to secure accommodation and employment. This will force many to head straight from the trauma of detention into poverty.

Australia refuses to provide permanent visas to refugees who arrived by boat. They are forced to reapply for protection every three to five years. The onus is placed on refugees to prove that they still deserve protection. Refugees in Australia are thus kept in a permanent state of limbo, constantly living with the fear of being deported.