[Greens-Media] Labor and Liberal agree on indefinite detention of children with ASIO bill

[Schultz-Byard, Noah (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Labor and Liberal agree on indefinite detention of children with ASIO bill

A bill legislating indefinite detention for at least 50 refugees with adverse ASIO assessments, including five children, has passed the House of Representative today with Labor and Liberal support, the Australian Greens have said.

"The Labor and Liberal Parties are in lock-step with one another when it comes to imprisoning refugees, including children, indefinitely," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"This Bill will see dozens of refugees who have received secretive adverse ASIO assessments locked up on Australian soil without charge and with no chance of release.

"Refugees receive adverse ASIO assessments for a range of reasons and there is no justification for a 'one-size-fits-all' response, especially when it is this extreme.

"With Labor's support this cruel and unnecessary Bill will sail through the Senate and become harsh, oppressive law.

"Ranjini, a young mother from Sri Lanka, and her children have spent years in the Villawood Detention Centre because of an adverse ASIO assessment. She doesn't know why she is facing indefinite detention but she does know that her children, some of whom were born in detention, are suffering.

"Australia has been condemned by the UN for its indefinite detention of these refugees. We were told to improve our process for dealing with these cases, but this bill does the exact opposite."


Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760


NOAH SCHULTZ-BYARD  STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

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