The Wire

Last night, about fifteen-thousand people attended candlelight vigils in opposition to the offshore detention of asylum seekers. Today the government announced a 1.2 billion dollar contract with the company Transfield Services. Transfield already runs Nauru detention centre and now the new 20-month deal will have it see it become heavily involved in the Manus Island camp too. Activists are calling for a boycott of organizations benefiting from the deal, including a major Sydney art festival that boasts Transfield as a sponsor.