Manus detention protesters in tent above Bishop Western Australian office

Two protesters have suspended themselves in a hanging tent above the Western Australian office of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop over the Manus Island issue.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Canberra, Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Canberra, Wednesday, October 25, 2017. Source: AAP

Two people have suspended themselves in a hanging tent four storeys above the Perth office of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, urging the federal government to evacuate Manus Island.

The pair, who are part of the Love Makes A Way movement, are doing a peaceful sit-in at the Subiaco building and have surrounded themselves with two banners reading "SOS Manus" and "Love Makes A Way for asylum seekers".

Cornerstone Church pastor Jarrod McKenna and psychologist Delroy Bergsma began their protest at 5am on Wednesday.

"The lives of 600 people on Manus Island hang in the balance, their fate is in Julie Bishop's hands, Mr McKenna said.
"That's why we are hanging here, urgently calling on the foreign minister and the government to take immediate action to ensure no more people die on Manus.

"What's happening on Manus Island is an emergency - 600 people who sought safety in Australia have been imprisoned for years and are now deprived of food, water, medical care and a safe future."

Love Makes A Way spokesman David Paris said the pair had enough water and sunscreen to remain in their tent all day but they had not determined how long they would continue their protest.
Mr Paris said there were a few police cars and several officers in the area, but there had been no word from Ms Bishop's office.

A spokeswoman for the minister said Ms Bishop was currently in Vietnam.

Mr McKenna previously made headlines in January 2015 when he and seven other Christian leaders stripped to their underwear and marched to Ms Bishop's office after being granted spent convictions for staging a sit-in in December 2014 over children locked up on Nauru.

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Published 8 November 2017 1:12pm
Updated 8 November 2017 1:29pm


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