With Refugee Week 2021 fast approaching, thoughts of supporters all over Australia are dominated by images of little Tharunicaa from Biloela, none more so than members of Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR).
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We visited her when she was imprisoned in Melbourne, held her in our arms, warmed to her smiles and marvelled at the courage of her parents who kept her and her sister smiling despite the panic in their own hearts.
Even those who are familiar with the callousness of Australia's refugee regime are shocked by the neglect which has endangered the life of this small child.
Medical intervention was prevented by prison guards who ignored her raging fever and her mother's pleas that the child be taken to hospital.
They "diagnosed" her condition as influenza and "prescribed" Panadol.
This went on for two weeks.
Now Tharunicaa is in hospital in Perth, where doctors - not prison guards - have diagnosed pneumonia and septicaemia. What Australian family would not be outraged by such neglect?
We are mindful too of other friends enduring indefinite incarceration in prisons across Australia.
We have witnessed the devasting effects of this torture.
It follows a familiar pattern.
First there is disbelief; I remember a new arrival expressing his frustration that he had been detained for six weeks, still not processed.
I remember the horror on his face as others told him that they had been waiting for six years and more.
Next anger and fear set in as the hopelessness of their situation dawns on them.
Then we see them becoming withdrawn and ill, as they realise how long they might be here, or see others deported back to the dangers they fled. Like us, some have limited coping mechanisms, others have none.
Torture is sadistically ratcheted up as arbitrary movements around the country deliberately separate families and separate refugees from their established community support - us.
All this despite decades of doctors' warnings on dangers of indefinite detention and the government knowing that these are innocent people, not guilty of any crime.
We are sickened by the Morrison government's continual lies, especially those referring to refugees as "illegal".
Let me make one thing clear: refugees are never illegal.
Their right to come here, by whatever means is at their disposal, is guaranteed by both international and Australian law.
We invited refugees to come here when we signed and participated in writing, the United Nations convention which enshrines these rights.
It is only our government that has acted illegally, rewriting the rule book to suit itself.
This is not democracy at work.