There is renewed pressure on the federal government to release asylum seeker children from Australia's detention centres.
Former child detainees have handed the Immigration Minister a petition with almost 40,000 signatures, calling for an end to the practice.
It came as SBS learnt that a boy orphaned after the Christmas Island boat diaster has been released.
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The government insists that it's on track to move children out of detention by June, and some are counting down the days until that happens.
“What's key here are the next two to three months - will the Minister keep his commitment to get the majority of children out of detention,” said Simon Sheikh, the National Director of the community advocacy group 'GetUp'.
'GetUp' has brought former child refugees to meet politicians in Canberra, including Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.
Some of their reactions were unexpected.
“We all shared our stories and there were great response from politicians and there were politicians that were actually in tears and we were very surprised to see that,” former refugee Najeeba Wazefadost told SBS.
No one from the Opposition was available to meet them, but others who did say their stories call for immediate action.
“After hearing the harrowing experiences that these young people have been through, it staggers me that anyone would agree that the mandatory of refugee children is acceptable,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young stressed.
The Immigration Department says there are currently 1044 minors in detention and 449 of those are unaccompanied minors
SBS understands that the nine-year-old boy who was orphaned after the Christmas Island boat disaster, is now out of detention and on his way to Sydney.
A relative says that Seena and other Christmas Island detainees are due to land later on Thursday and will, for now, live in a rented home in Sydney's west.
With the Opposition still reeling from its criticisms of the victims' funeral costs, it's reaffirmed its support for multiculturalism.
“We believe that one of Australia's greatest strengths is its cultural diversity,” said Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
“We are the most successful immigrant country in the world.”
But with recent division in the Liberal Party over the issue it might not be a universal view.
