[Greens-Media] SENATOR KERRY NETTLE: New Villawood housing project a testimony to the failure of mandatory detention

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

New Villawood housing project a testimony to the failure of mandatory
detention

1.08.06


Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today said that opening of the
Villawood Residential Housing Centre should not be seen as an indication
that the government is supporting families in detention.

"It is hypocritical for the Minister to be opening the Villawood Housing
Centre   at the same as she is considering sending a sick Afghan child
to remote the Christmas Island detention centre.

"Shiny new detention facilities do not signal the real change that is
still needed in the Government detention regime.

"Every Residential Housing Centre built is a reminder of  the damage
that mandatory detention  does to human lives. 

"I know one man who has a serious mental illness related to the
detention centre environment, yet the Minister has so far refused to
grant him alternative detention, despite his family, who are Australian
citizens, offering to care for him. 

"The Greens also note the Government is continuing with its program of
ensuring that immigration detainees are not properly remunerated for the
work they do in immigration detention centres.  Private companies should
not be able to use '$1 an hour' detainee labour and then announce
million dollar profits. 
 
"People in immigration detention are not criminals and should be treated
with dignity and respect and properly remunerated for the work they do
and not exploited or abused."

Contact: Jon Edwards - 0428 213 146