'We can't believe Australia is doing this'

He continued, '…For several years now, more than 90 per cent of asylum seekers that have arrived by boat have been found to be refugees in need of protection. They are not fleeing for a sea change, but for their lives. Refugees have made a remarkable contribution to our country. There is no need to fear their arrival. Australia is a proudly multicultural nation, made stronger by the dedication and contribution of people who come here, whether as refugees or migrants'.

The young Sri Lankan who spoke at the meeting must be deeply grateful that he was not detained at either Manus or Nauru and that he was not among those transferred at sea and sent back.

Australia needs to find a way to end off-shore detention, one of the forum speakers concluded. He said politicians of the two main parties would stay on their current respective paths until a big enough movement on behalf of refugees made them fear losing their jobs. Despite critical submissions to a federal senate inquiry and damning statements made by the UNHCR, there were people out there who still could not believe Australia was really doing this to refugees, he said.

Note: Names of speakers deliberately withheld.