PUTTING a tangible face on the children who remain in detention while their refugee claims are assessed was the aim of a dramatic demonstration outside the Civic Centre on Thursday.
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Featuring a wire cage and numerous toy dolls, designed to represent the children in detention, the sculpture aimed to highlight what they go through as they wait in limbo.
"Except we put (the dolls) to bed at night and look after them and they've got some hope of getting out one day," Catholic Mission Wagga Diocese director John Goonan, the co-ordinator of the exhibit, said.
The idea for the exhibition came about as a way to give people a way to feel like they were making a difference.
"Writing letters is one thing, but you rarely get an answer," he said.
Wagga Diocese bishop Gerard Hanna leant his support to the cause on Thursday, speaking of his desire to see no more children seeking asylum held in detention.
"We acknowledge what the government has done, but there are still 800 kids in detention," he said.
"We're asking that we keep the momentum, keep bringing these children out of detention."
In changes made to migration legislation this week designed to gain the support of the Senate crossbench, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has said he wants to have all children out of detention by Christmas, but only if the bill is passed.
Mr Goonan said that was tantamount to blackmail of the crossbench and labelled the move "disgusting".
"There's no hope (for the children), they're just completely at the hope of Mr Morrison if he decides they might be able to move," Mr Goonan said.
The demonstration will remain in Wagga on Friday before visiting Leeton on Tuesday and Griffith on Wednesday and Thursday.