The Victorian Government Has Offered to House 267 Refugees Facing Offshore Detention

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has sent a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offering to take in all 267 asylum seekers facing return to Nauru after Wednesday's High Court ruling on offshore detention.

"I write to inform you that Victoria will accept full responsibility for all of these children and their families including the provision of housing, health, education, and welfare services," the letter reads.

"Given we stand ready to provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment for these children and their families, there is no justification for their removal."

Most of the asylum seekers affected by the High Court ruling were originally brought to Australia for medical treatment, and were fighting extradition back to offshore detention on Nauru. However, within the group there are 37 babies who were born on the mainland.

"There are infants among this group who were born in this country," Premier Andrews writes in the letter posted to his Facebook. "Sending these children to a life of trauma on a sparse Pacific island is not a fair solution."

"I want these children and their families to call Victoria home."

Victoria has been a hotbed of protest around the issue of refugees and asylum seekers for many years. On Friday, Melbourne experienced the country's largest "Let Them Stay" march against the High Court decision that ruled Australia's offshore detention program legal. At least 5000 people marched from the State Library of Victoria to the Liberal Party's headquarters, where a sit-in was staged, before the crowd moved onto the Department of Immigration.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis has labelled Premier Andrews, "A bloody legend." He's also hinted at a national night of action on Monday, February 8 calling for the Australian Government to offer the affected asylum seekers sanctuary.