[Greens-Media] Government Response to Migration Inquiry shirks at real reform

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Government Response to Migration Inquiry shirks at real reform

14 June 2007

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today condemned the government
for failing to commit to any substantial migration reform in its belated
response to the Senate Inquiry into the Migration Act.

"Today, it has been revealed that a Chinese woman has spent over
six-and-a-half years in detention and today the Government has indicated
that they are happy for similar tragedies to occur.  

"The government's response to the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry
shirk away from making any real reform to a system that needs fixing,"
said Senator Nettle.

"The inquiry recommended ending indefinite detention by imposing a 90
day limit on detention.  Given how well alternatives to detention are
currently functioning, this recommendation should have been accepted by
the government.
 
"The government's indefinite mandatory detention policy has allowed this
woman and others to be locked up for years and it must be abolished.
Only recommendations that the government has already committed to after
other reports such as increased training for staf, have been accepted.

"The government also rejected long over-due reforms to the obscure and
highly secretive Ministerial intervention process.  It should have
implemented a humanitarian stream into primary processing which could
unclog both the courts and the Minister's in-tray.

"Lawyers continue to be excluded from many areas of the processing
system, despite evidence that better legal advice would promote
procedural fairness and unclog the courts and review processes.

"The Greens will campaign on mandatory detention and reform of the
immigration system in the coming election."

More information Kristian Bolwell: 0411638320