Refugee Activists Blockade Wilson Car Park at Melbourne Central.
Not one more day of torture.
Cancel the contracts!
Refugee advocates have this morning gone ahead with planned actions against Wilson Security, despite Wilson announcing it will not renew its detention contracts
ONGOING ACTION – *Sept 3rd 8:30am onwards
Refugee advocates have this morning gone ahead with planned actions against Wilson Security, despite Wilson announcing it will not renew its detention contracts and are currently blockading a Wilson car park in Melbourne’s CBD, in response to the corporation’s abuse of refugees.
This morning’s blockade in Melbourne is part of the National Day of Action against Wilson Security with actions also taking place in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, and a solidarity action in Auckland, New Zealand.
Refugee supporters are currently blockading the Wilson Security car park located at Melbourne Central and are demanding the Federal Government cancel Wilson Security’s contracts immediately and close down the offshore camps now!
Spokesperson Jyoee Hughes stated
“Whilst Wilson Security have announced their intention to exit the detention industry at the conclusion of their current contract in October 2017, 13 months – that’s 400 days – is too long for the men, women and children incarcerated on Manus Island and Nauru, suffering rape, abuse and torture at the hands of Wilson Security guards. We will continue our pressure on the Australian Government to #CancelTheContracts with Wilson Security now, before any more damage is done to these innocent people. There is no business in abuse.”
The national day of action is part of an ongoing “Boycott Wilson” campaign by Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance (WACA), the group who recently interrupted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s speech in Melbourne. WACA members stepped up the pressure on those doing business with Wilson Security following the recent leak of the “Nauru Files” by the Guardian. The leaked documents lend further credibility to the various accusations levelled at Wilson Security staff.
Spokesperson Kat Moore stated
“We know Wilson Security have flown guards accused of rape off Manus Island before they could be interviewed; we know Wilson Security paid one staff member $15,000 to ‘keep quiet’ about an alleged incident of sexual assault. We also know Wilson Security failed to submit 16 incidences of known sexual assault to the federal parliamentary inquiry into Nauru. Wilson Security cannot obfuscate their accountability for this abuse simply by stating they intend to exit the detention industry. The Federal Government must cancel the contracts now and ensure Wilson Security is held accountable for the human rights abuses their guards have committed”.
“The people on Manus Island and Nauru cannot wait 13 months for the torture and trauma to end. Everyday in these camps is another day of abuse at the hands of Wilson Security guards. We will continue our campaign against Wilson Security, until the contracts are cancelled and the camps are permanently closed. It is time for the Federal Government to accept their policy has failed and resulted in mass abuse and trauma. Prime Minister Turnbull and Minister Dutton have a responsibility and duty of care to the men, women and children stranded on these camps. These people have been found to be in the majority legitimate refugees and should not suffer one more day of abuse. We demand the Government close the camps now and bring them here!” she stated.
#BoycottWilson #CancelTheContracts #CloseTheCamps #BringThemHere
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/10/the-nauru-files-2000-leaked-reports-reveal-scale-of-abuse-of-children-in-australian-offshore-detention
http://www.smh.com.au/business/wilson-parkings-tax-numbers-appear-to-defy-economic-reality-20160408-go1w4u.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-05/greens-call-for-wilson-security-sacking/7299736
http://riserefugee.org/exdetaineesdemands/
WACA – Whistleblowers, Activists & Citizens Alliance · CBD · Melbourne, Victoria 3000 · Australia
Kat Moore
