THE story of Cornelia Rau's wrongful detention put a face to refugee issues that had long been swept behind the electric fences of Australia's detention centres.
Pamela Curr, who was instrumental in the ill woman's much-publicised release in 2005, was among those who tried to dispel myths about refugees through a public forum at the University of the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
"I think her story woke many Australians up to what was going on behind the electric fences of our detention centres but we need to keep fighting or politicians will revert to their old ways."
Ms Rau was an Australian-raised German citizen who ended up at the Baxter Detention Centre when she escaped from hospital with serious mental health issues.
Ms Curr took on her cause after Iranians inside Baxter phoned her about a sick woman, known as Anna, who should not be there.
"People were horrified they had walked past this girl daily, knowing she was in abject misery, but that is still happening to others who are not blonde-haired, blue-eyed, ex-Qantas air hostesses."
Ms Curr said the Federal Government's failure to revive its plan to ship refugees to Malaysia provided a unique opportunity to find better solutions to the situation.
"We've got 5000 people in detention centres around this country getting very sick and going crazy. At the same time, the government has started a legal form of detention called community detention.
"If they gain a refugee visa, they have found their way in the community.
"And if they get an adverse decision they are in the frame of mind where they can accept it.
"Between February and June this year, 1500 people have quietly come into our community from detention centres and the sky did not fall in.
"Refugees are not a threat, 40% of the Australian population were either born overseas or have a parent born overseas. We are a country of migration.
"Except for the Aboriginal people we've all arrived from somewhere."
Ms Curr said she believed public forums on refugees were important.
"I want our kids to grow up in a peaceful country where they respect each other and respect that people have different backgrounds. Human rights are intrinsically linked to the future of our country."
Buddies Refugee Support Group member Margaret Landbeck said almost 250 people attended to hear Ms Curr, prominent barrister and human rights advocate Julian Burnside, an Afghani asylum seeker and other refugee advocates.
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