Australia's opposition Greens has called on the government to grant access to Papuan asylum seekers to show the immigration department has changed its ways.
Senator Kerry Nettle of the Greens made the call in a rally in Melbourne in support of the 43 West Papuan boat people who have been taken to Christmas Island after arriving from Indonesia last week.
The senator says they should not be in detention and they certainly should be allowed to communicate with the outside world.
She says she will go to Christmas Island this weekend to meet the West Papuans, adding that the immigration department is obligated under the Migration Act to allow her to meet them.
