[Greens-Media] Immigration has spent nearly $2 million so far in legal costs against refugee child

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

31.05.06
Immigration has spent nearly $2 million so far in legal costs against
refugee child

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today revealed that the Department of
Immigration has spent nearly $2 million dollars on one case against 10
yr old Shayan Badraie in an attempt to prove that they were right to
incarcerate him causing him psychological damage.

In answer to a question on notice from Senator Nettle the Department
confirmed that the costs of the case against Shayan Badraie was more
than $1.5 million dollars in total with lawyers fees of $1.39 million
dollars. This figure does not include the cost of the settlement
($400,000) or the costs for the child's lawyers which could be more than
$1million more.

"It highlights the inhuman priorities of this government's policy that
they have already spent nearly two million dollars in fighting this
child in the courts for their right to lock him up and cause him harm,"
Senator Nettle said.

"The government is now planning to incarcerate more children with its
Pacific Solution 2 legislation coming to the Senate in June. They
clearly haven't changed.

"The government has paid lawyers more than three times the $400,000 they
paid Shayan Badraie in settling the case.

"The costs of the mandatory detention policy are massive, both on the
victims and the taxpayers who foot the bill.

"I will be sending the details of this case to all parliamentarians to
mull over when deciding whether to support the governments Pacific
Solution legislation in June."

ANSWER TO QUESTION ON NOTICE
As at 7 March 2006 the total cost incurred in support of the litigation
involving Shayan Badraie was 				 
	Legal fees: 				$1,390, 661.07 
	Medical Reports: 				$86,974.70 
	Other Sundry: 				$67,495.51 
	DIMA travel costs:				$4,181.43 
	DIMA accommodation costs: 		$4,260.00 
	TOTAL: 					$1,553,562.71

	THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE COSTS FOR SHAYAN BADRAIE'S LAWYERS OR HIS
SETTLEMENT OF $400,000
	
	Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146