[Greens-Media] Manus failure has to be addressed

Mon Jul 15 20:30:04 EST 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 15 July 2013

Manus failure has to be addressed

The failure of the Manus Island oversight committee to ever meet is a clear indictment on the Australian Government and yet another sign that the island prison needs to be shut down, the Australian Greens have said.

"The revelation that the government's oversight committee has never met shows that Labor were never serious about making sure the treatment of refugees on Manus Island was humane or in line with international standards," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The government has shown contempt for ensuring adequate transparency of it's offshore detention camps that are costing Australian tax payers billions of dollars every year.

"The government seems intent on hiding what is really going on inside the Manus camp, banning media access and now ensuring a lack of attention by their hand-picked oversight committee.

"When I visited the Manus Island prison earlier this year, it was clear that there was insufficient planning and management.

"It is now clear that the Parliament and the Australian people were misled on how the centre would be run and overseen and it is time for it to be shut down.

"The Greens will stand up for what is right and will work to protect vulnerable people in our region now and into the future."

Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760

NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  MEDIA ADVISER

OFFICE OF SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG
AUSTRALIAN GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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