MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In particular, the protesters demanded to stop offshore detention of asylum seekers, and to increase the quota for annual refugee acceptance, the ABC News television channel reported.
The rally brought together church groups, community organizations, students and families. Following the rally, the protesters marched through the city, chanting slogans about refugees being welcomed in Australia.
Refugees, including young children, seeking asylum in Australia are settled in offshore detention camps on Manus island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific while their application is being processed by Australia.
Earlier this week, Australia marked 600 days of no refugee boat arrivals.