A small but vocal protest on the streets of Melbourne by the Refugee Action Collective has called for the government to abandon plans to reintroduce Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).
TPVs were abolished in 2008 and, so far, Coalition attempts to restore them have been blocked.
But with the backing of Palmer United Party senators, they look set to return.
The Refugee Action Collective's Chris Breen said it had been like a recurring nightmare.
"Temporary Protection Visas are a form of slow torture brought in by the Howard government," he said. "They mean that refugees can't establish new lives nor can they go back they're in limbo."
Morteza Poorvavi knows all about it. After fleeing Iran, he spent four years in detention and another four on a Temporary Protection Visa.
"You can't really feel a sense of belonging to Australia you always feel like there is someone on top of you and as soon as they want to get rid of you they'll deport you," he said.
The government said the new Temporary Protection Visas would allow holders to work, and have access to Medicare and social security benefits.
But refugee advocate Chris Breen said the negatives far outweighed the positives.
"They are in permanent fear of being sent back. They have to reapply every three years for another visa and they're at risk of getting sent back, they find it difficult to get work and establish roots," he said.
Protests have also been held at the Nauru detention centre. Refugee advocates have released photos showing people with their lips stitched together and they claim incidents of self harm are spiralling out of control.
Greens Deputy Leader Adam Bandt said Immigration Minister Scott Morrison needed to launch an investigation.
"The minister at some point who loves to take responsibilty for saying he stopped the boats also has to take responsibility for those who are hurting themselves and attempting to kill themselves," he said.
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