Rural Australians for Refugees along with a network of support groups gathered in Hargreaves Mall on Tuesday afternoon to show their support for a family facing deportation back to Sri Lanka.
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RAR chairperson Chris Cummins said they gathered in the mall so they could present a letter to Senator Bridget Mckenzie about the family’s situation.
“It was great to see support from the members of our groups but also from the general public who noticed us as they were walking through the mall,” Ms Cummins said.
Jan Govett from Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children said the network of human rights groups were concerned about the family’s future.
“If you look at families in this position they have been through trauma already and are just trying to get on with their lives,” she said.
“But unfortunately we then put them through even more trauma again, it’s so unnecessary.”
The family came to Australia to escape Sri Lanka’s civil war and settled in the small town of Biloela, Queensland before being detained as their visas expired in March.
The family’s lawyer will appear before the Federal Circuit Court Melbourne on Wednesday May 3.
