Protesters are blockading a makeshift detention centre in Kangaroo Point, accusing the government of trying to relocate asylum seekers "away from media and public scrutiny."
Around 120 men are being held at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel, after being transferred from offshore detention for specialist medical treatment. Some have been in detention for more than seven years.
Protesters have blockaded the hotel since Thursday evening, after being alerted by one of the asylum seekers that he was going to be moved to Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA), a higher-security detention facility.
Since then, protesters have pitched tents and gazebos around the hotel and are blocking vehicles from accessing the site.
They are accusing the government of trying to silence outspoken asylum seekers by moving them to other facilities.
Spokesperson for Refugee Action Collective Mark Gillespie said asylum seekers were being moved to prevent them from protesting from their balconies ahead of tomorrow’s National Day of Action against mandatory detention.
“We think they’re trying to move people away from here to make our protest tomorrow less effective,” he said.
“That’s their right to protest. They want to be able to be seen by the public and if they’re out at BITA they'll be out of sight, out of mind.”
Asylum seekers have been protesting their indefinite detention from the balconies of the Kangaroo Point hotel for over two months and they’ve been joined by a growing number of protesters outside the hotel each Friday afternoon.
Activist Matt Sheppard is worried about conditions for refugees inside BITA.
“[The Kangaroo Point hotel] is already hell — and the place they’re taking them is far worse. They’ve got no outside contact, nowhere to exercise, bigger walls. So the least we can do is stop them taking them from one hell to a far worse hell.”
Despite their blockades, activists said one asylum seeker was transferred from the hotel on Friday morning by around 15 Serco guards.
According to a spokesperson for QPS, police attended after being requested by Border Force to assist.
Councillor for the Gabba Ward Jonathan Sri criticised the QPS for attending the site on Friday morning.
“It's been disappointing to see that the state government has allowed the Queensland Police to be used as a political tool to do Border Force's dirty work,” he said.
“This is not an appropriate use of police officers — to silence peaceful protests and escort refugees from one detention centre to another,” he said.
QPS has been contacted for a response to Councillor Sri’s comments.
The activists are now checking any vehicles entering the hotel and said they will continue to blockade the hotel on Friday night to prevent further transfers of asylum seekers.
Ahead of tomorrow’s National Day of Action, QPS issued a media statement advising protesters to stay home.
“People should not attend future protests to ensure they can comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions in relation to COVID-19.”
“If anyone does attend a protest, they must not gather in groups of more than 20 and must ensure they practice social distancing and good hygiene. Stay home if you feel unwell.”
Report by Lillian Rangiah and Max Rowley.