This week, I, alongside a group of advocates, refugees and politicians, stepped into the Australian parliament to launch a campaign for a royal commission into the Australian detention system. For me, this moment marked the culmination of a decade of waiting and fighting to expose this system – a surreal and historic moment for refugees who have experienced the brutality and violence of the detention industry.
The Australian detention system was established to destroy us, but we refugees are still here, as testament to the many years over which we have been fighting for justice. Proving our existence through performance has been a key tactic at the heart of our fight and journey for years. Launching the inquiry alongside refugees and allies, there was once again performance: first, many years ago, we refugees were banished to Manus Island and Nauru to be out of sight and out of mind. But years later, today, we are standing here, fully visible, and calling for a royal commission and for justice.
