Refugee advocates plan Curtin visit

Refugee advocates are planning to protest outside Curtin detention centre and are warning of a crisis among detainees.

As authorities battle the fallout from the Villawood riots, two buses carrying advocates are expected to leave Perth tonight for the Curtin visit.

Armed with dictionaries, 1500 Easter eggs – one for each of the mostly male Afghan detainees locked up inside – they plan to arrive on Saturday and camp outside the gates, down a 7km driveway from the main road.

People from NSW and Queensland will be among the group, including Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul and prominent human rights lawyer Julian Gormley.

Human rights activist Gerry Georgatos, a vocal critic of the Federal Government’s policy on asylum seekers, said more than half of the visitors had applied for permission to visit the centre.

However, it was unclear whether that would prevent the group being denied access.

“We have 100 visitor applications from 40 of us and I have nine applications in from people I have kept in touch with who are desperate for contact and hope,” he said.

“We understand from our contact with them that they are despairing, they are in the dark, they are concerned that there are many months and years ahead of them in being held there.

“They are breaking down and a crisis is pending, they are aware of the collective despair around the country, at Christmas Island, at Villawood …”

“We intend to camp as near as possible because we have two days worth of visiting planned.”

Mr Georgatos said he had already spoken to Curtin’s management on several occasions to try to confirm access to the centre before he arrived.