[Greens-Media] Mandatory Detention in the dock

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

29.08.05

Mandatory Detention in the dock: 
Vanstone and Ruddock must accept responsibility


Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today renewed Greens calls for the abolition
of the government's mandatory detention regime following news that
traumatised former detainee, 10 yr old Shayan Badraie, is suing the
federal government for damages.

"A 10 year old refugee living in Australia should not have to take the
Federal Government to court to receive compensation for the harm the
government's mandatory detention policy has caused him," Senator Nettle
said.

"The only way the government can ensure that more cases like Shayan's do
not end up in the court is to scrap the system of mandatory detention
that locks people up and has disastrous mental health consequences.

"The government's policy of mandatory detention is in the dock. Shayan
Badraie's case is the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of people
who have been brutalised by detention experiences which this government
is responsible for.

"Psychiatrists and psychologists have said for years that immigration
detention as practiced by this government damages people's mental
health.

"The government should be scrapping its mandatory detention policy and
compensating the victims, but instead they are sending them bills.

"The Minister for Immigration is ultimately responsible for the harm
caused by the government's mandatory detention policy and its
implementation. 

"How many more people need to be deported, traumatised, injured or
suffer a premature death before the Minister takes responsibility and
resigns?"

"The policy of mandatory detention should be scrapped along with the
Minister."


Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146