The voices of the detained

ASIO was allegedly asking questions about how the refugees arrived in Australia and about people smugglers. Ms Curr asks, "How relevant is this? Isn't ASIO supposed to investigate the security threat of the person not the way they arrived to Australia."

"The Government talks endlessly about the 'people smugglers' business model' without ever acknowledging that this business model is built on the lack of effective protection of asylum seekers and refugees in many parts of South-East Asia and South Asia," Mr Power said.

Mr Power notes that, "while refugees and asylum seekers continue to live under constant threat of harassment, violence and arrest in countries where they fled to escape persecution, the need to move on to a safer country such as Australia will remain."

These are the people who ask Australians to "please keep us in your prayer and in your kind consideration. We need your love, your sympathy, your support."