About 60 asylum seekers and refugees stuck in indefinite detention in a Melbourne hotel have been moved to nearby accommodation with little warning, lawyers have said.
The men have been detained at the Mantra Bell City hotel in the northern suburb of Preston for up to 18 months.
They have now been moved to the Park Hotel in Carlton.
A lawyer representing some of the men, Alison Battisson, says the men were given just 15 minutes to pack their belongings, and were not told where they were going until they arrived.
“This is incredibly distressing for them,” she said.
Authorities started moving the detainees just after 9am on Thursday, amid protests outside the Mantra Hotel.
“It was a very militaristic operation so it was clearly a while in the planning,” Ms Battisson said.
The men had previously been transferred from detention on Manus Island so they could receive medical treatment in mainland Australia.
Two of the medevac refugees have recently been released on bridging visas, one in Melbourne and another in Brisbane.
Ms Battisson said authorities asked the men for the details of community contacts several days ago, leading some to hope that they might be released.
She said a recent Federal Court ruling means the detainees must be released unless there are plans to provide them with medical care.
Ms Battisson said the ruling may create legal issues for the owners of the Park Hotel.
“I don’t know if these companies got legal advice … I’d be very concerned if I was them,” she said.
There have been protests for months outside the Mantra Hotel in Preston, including scuffles with police.
Australian Border Force and the Department of Home Affairs have been contacted for comment.
Victoria Police says it is providing a “highly visible” presence so that any protests remain peaceful and lawful.
