[Greens-Media] Government play mean games with Vivian Solon

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

11.08.05

Government play mean games with Vivian Solon

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today asked Minister for Family and
Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, why the government had only
offered wrongly deported Australian citizen six months of assistance on
her return to Australia and why the government is refusing to submit to
independent arbitration to settle the matter.

Senator Patterson confirmed that the government's care package for Ms
Solon only guaranteed six months care, and did not accept that the
government should submit to arbitration to settle the matter.  

"Today the government has confirmed that they are playing tough with
Vivian Solon in refusing to offer her a appropriate care package on her
return," Senator Nettle said.

"This government's actions have left Vivian languishing in a hospice for
the dying in Manila for four years yet they are only willing to
guarantee six months of care if she returns to Australia. That is
clearly unfair and indicative of a defensive, uncompassionate approach.

"The government is still refusing to have the details of Vivian's care
package settled by an independent arbiter. 

"The government is responsible for bringing Vivian home and so must
offer a guarantee of care longer than six months or submit to the
judgement of an independent umpire to settle the matter. 

"It's not good enough for the government to blame Vivian Solon's lawyers
for not agreeing to the government's paltry offer, it is clearly their
responsibility to make a fair offer and to put an end to Vivian's forced
exile in the Philippines."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146