Greens Senator Bob Brown has told a rally that Australians have an obligation to support people in Papua who are suffering under Indonesian rule.
Similar protests have been held also in Perth and in Sydney.
About 200 people have attended the protest in Melbourne against alleged human rights abuses committed by the military in the Indonesian province.
The Australian Government recently granted temporary protection visas to 42 asylum seekers from the province, and they will settle in Melbourne.
Senator Mr Brown says Australians need to highlight the issue with the Federal Government.
"As with East Timor it will be the Australian people that change the Australian government and the Australian opposition out of their turning of backs," he says.