Australia has freed dozens of refugees after holding them in detention for up to eight years on Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
The controversial offshore detentions were designed to stop people trying to enter Australia illegally by boat and for many years hundreds of people, mostly from the Middle East, were being held.
More than 60 refugees, many of whom were brought to Australia for medical treatment, have been released this week from hotels and detention centres in Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin.
It follows releases of similar numbers in December and January and Don Wiseman asked the Refugee Action Coalition's Ian Rintoul if this is a sign the Australian government is recognising the error of its ways.
Manus Island refugees wait at the airport for their flight to Port Moresby. Photo: Ian Rintoul
