Australia ends mandatory detention of asylum seekers
I'm still reeling from the Federal Government's announcement that they'll be ending mandatory detention for asylum seekers. First introduced by the Labor government in 1992, but most successfully used by the Howard government to grab votes, the policy has cost Australian taxpayers more than a billion dollars, and has cost genuine refugees, including children, their physical and mental health and sometimes their lives. It was vigorously challenged by numerous activists and campaigns for years and years, to no avail; suddenly, with the change of government and a Parliamentary inquiry, it's gone, as though vanished into thin air. I can only hope it's not too good to be true.
Info and analysis:
Mandatory detention policy overturned
Immigration Minister's speech, giving details of the new policy
Tampa recedes into a shameful past
Amnesty International: Immigration detention reforms a welcome step
More recent refugee news:
The other side of the fence: "They took away everything I was living for - friends, education, freedom. That time from 16 to 20, it's the time when your personality develops. That one year in Woomera did the most damage to me, there was nothing there, not even a book, a newspaper."
Former immigration minister 'wanted more Christian refugees'
Cut minister's discretionary powers over immigration, says report
No detainees - but a huge cost blow-out: "The Federal Government's upgrade to the empty detention centre on Christmas Island cost $318 million - considerably more than the recent renovation of the Sydney Hilton and $120 million over budget." Since April, "the 800-person compound has not held a single detainee and lies staffed and idle, draining taxpayers of $7.1 million a year."
Real-estate 'conspiracy' targets refugees
Refugees get $3.4m grant to pass citizenship test
Info and analysis:
Mandatory detention policy overturned
Immigration Minister's speech, giving details of the new policy
Tampa recedes into a shameful past
Amnesty International: Immigration detention reforms a welcome step
More recent refugee news:
The other side of the fence: "They took away everything I was living for - friends, education, freedom. That time from 16 to 20, it's the time when your personality develops. That one year in Woomera did the most damage to me, there was nothing there, not even a book, a newspaper."
Former immigration minister 'wanted more Christian refugees'
Cut minister's discretionary powers over immigration, says report
No detainees - but a huge cost blow-out: "The Federal Government's upgrade to the empty detention centre on Christmas Island cost $318 million - considerably more than the recent renovation of the Sydney Hilton and $120 million over budget." Since April, "the 800-person compound has not held a single detainee and lies staffed and idle, draining taxpayers of $7.1 million a year."
Real-estate 'conspiracy' targets refugees
Refugees get $3.4m grant to pass citizenship test