One of the key organisers councillor Neil Jones, said he was amazed with the 150 people who filled the hall.

“I thought we would get about 50 people, but I looked up and they just kept coming through the door.

“The response is wonderful and it shows Orange people really care about what is happening to refugees,” he said.

Cr Jones working with the Orange Social Justice Group brought refugee advocate and author Robin de Crespigny to Orange to speak about what she says is a terrible injustice in the way Australia treats refugees.

Ms de Crespigny said the eyes of the world are on Australia, which is being internationally condemned for asylum seeker policy.

“We are seen as a harsh and cruel nation with no compassion who is not fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations refugee convention,” she said.

Ms de Crespigny told the crowd while Australia welcomes 200,000 migrants and 120,000 people on short-term working visas every year it is shameful the refugee intake has been reduced to 13,000 in the last year.

“How can we use this excuse that refugees will be taking our jobs and threatening our lifestyle - the argument doesn’t make any sense when you look at these figures,” she said.

“And we are spending all these millions of dollars keeping people out when they could be resettled at a fraction of the cost and sent back if they’re not genuine refugees - we are pulling millions out of schools and hospitals to keep this policy going,” she said.

Ms de Crespigny used the experiences of her connections with an Iraqi refugee Ali Al Jenabi who is the subject of her book The People Smuggler, telling the crowd of the confronting experiences portrayed in her book when the boy was arrested, thrown in to the infamous Abu Ghraib prison and tortured.

Ms de Crespigny told the crowd the young man’s only motivation in smuggling people to Australia in 2001 was to finance his family to come here, including his father who was left a broken man after torture under the Hussein regime.

During her visit to Orange Ms de Crespigny also spoke with students of Canobolas Rural Technology High School and James Sheahan Catholic High School.

“This has all come about by a letter to the editor by 20 wonderful women of Orange who were concerned about comments in the media by our federal member John Cobb that his constituents were in agreement with government policies,” Cr Jones said.

Mr Cobb was unavailable for an interview and requested written questions.

“I am always available to meet with members of the community to discus any concerns that they may have,” Mr Cobb said in a statement.

However, he did not respond to questions about the  groundswell of support for asylum seekers.

Cr Jones said letters will now be sent to Orange’s state and federal politicians as well as the Prime Minister after those attending on Wednesday night put their signatures to the letter.

Cr Jones said he hopes momentum will continue from Thursday night’s rally.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au