Big Brother's Merlin

14 June 2004

A Just Australia National Director, Howard Glenn, welcomed the latest high profile protester to express his opinion on Australia's treatment of refugees.

"Australia has over 500 people who sought asylum in or before 2001 still detained in remote camps", Howard Glenn said today.

"They are under constant surveillance, rarely able to contact the outside world, and kept away from the media.

"A bit like the Big Brother contestants, except that they're in detention for years, and no-one gets to see the video footage of what goes on.

"I usually watch Big Brother to escape for a while from work on these issues - so it was a bit of a shock to see Merlin's protest.

"We'd welcome an opportunity to brief Merlin on how to continue his protest, and to join with the thousands of other Australians, high profile or not, who work with us", Mr Glenn said.