(Transcript from World News Radio)
The death of an Iranian asylum seeker at the Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea has sparked demonstrations across Australia.
The young man died during unrest at the centre, in circumstances that are yet to be publicly revealed.
Andrea Nierhoff reports.
Reza Berati's death last week has inspired public outpourings of grief, and of anger.
From Devonport to Darwin, thousands of Australians have held protest rallies over asylum seeker treatment.
"Close Manus Now, Close Manus Now, Close Manus Now."
National secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union, Michelle O'Neil, told one rally in Melbourne the government's asylum seeker policy is harming those most vulnerable.
"A policy based on fear, a policy based on the obscene notion that we want to convince those seeking protection and asylum that where they will end up is worse than where they are fleeing. It is an inevitable policy, an inevitable result of that obscene policy that we will see people die."
The government has announced there will be an independent inquiry into the incident that lead to Reza Berati's death.
But Deputy Leader of the Greens, Adam Bandt, says that's not enough.
He wants to see the Manus detention centre shut down.
"This is not a fit place to put people because they will be at risk and their health and safety is at risk. And sadly we've seen that come to pass and that much cannot be denied. What we don't know is what else is happening there. How the other people were injured. Exactly who felled this man and who landed the fatal blow and how it was done."
President of the Refugee Council of Australia, Phil Glendenning, says the number of people attending the rallies demonstrates how passionate people are about the issue.
"I think they're very significant. I think there is a deep concern in the Australian community that so many people, so quickly, across the country would come out to manifest their concern over the situation on Manus Island which has resulted in the death of one man and the injury of approximately 70 other people whilst in the care of Australia."
Spokesman for Victoria's Refugee Action Collective, Chris Breen, agrees many Australians are concerned about the treatment of asylum seekers.
He says resentment has been simmering since the announcement of the so-called 'PNG solution' by the previous Labor government in July last year.
"I think the first taste of the anger around refugees was actually when Kevin Rudd announced the Papua New Guinea deal. I think it displays the outrage at what has happened on Manus Island, with one man who came seeking protection in Australia murdered by the very people to whom he came seeking protection."
Chris Breen says the Refugee Action Collective aims to build on the swell of public interest in the asylum seeker issue.
And he says he's already seen a positive reaction.
"What we are intending to do with the vigils and the anger is build ongoing organisations, so it's not a one-off 'bang' and then everything disappears. And in that regard there have been some heartening responses. We've seen a blossoming of new refugee groups around the country. We've seen the formation of Secondary Students for Refugees, Riders for Refugees, the reinvigoration of some of the rural groups. There is a growing movement."
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