[Greens-Media] Senator Nettle meets with long-term Baxter detainees

[Lawson, Damien (Sen K. Nettle)]

22.03.05

Senator Nettle meets with long-term Baxter detainees

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle visited Baxter Immigration Detention Centre
today, visiting long term detainees.

The visit coincides with a Federal Cabinet meeting which is considering
the fate of long term detainees in Australia.

"Today I meet with ten people in Baxter detention centre, most of whom
have been in detention for over four years, including Peter Qasim who
has been detained for seven years", Senator Nettle said.

"They asked me to give this message to the government:

"The time has come for some compassion. The point the government tried
to make on border protection four-years ago has been made"

"The detainees are apprehensive about the Cabinet decision."

"There is a lot of fear that they will be left to languish for more
years behind the wire."

"It is time for the government to give these people their freedom. Most
of them have skills that could be used in the community; two of the
detainees we met with have had job offers."

"They should be released and given permanent protection; no one should
be left in this limbo for years on end."

The Greens want to see an end to mandatory detention and for asylum
seekers to be able to live in the community while their claims are
assessed.

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146



Damien Lawson

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Office of Greens Senator Kerry Nettle
Tel: 02 9690 2038 Fax: 02 9690 2041 
Mobile: 0419 253 342
111-117 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010 NSW www.kerrynettle.org.au