[Greens-Media] Refugee health panel sacked, because it did its job…

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

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Refugee health panel sacked, because it did its job…

The release of documents under Freedom of Information laws has shown that the Immigration Health Advisory Group, which was tasked with giving the government advice on the physical and mental health of refugees in detention, was disbanded because of concerns that it would reveal the truth about the situation inside Australia’s detention network, the Australian Greens have said.

“Operation Secret Boats is a media strategy with an extraordinary and concerning reach that stretches throughout the government,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“This revelation shows that the government was worried IHAG wouldn’t toe the line on its cruel policies and disbanded it to avoid independent scrutiny of its inhumane practices.

“This government is willing to risk permanently damaging refugees’ mental health in order to protect its dirty secrets.

“Far from being ineffective, as Tony Abbott claimed when the group was gutted in December, IHAG was being too effective in exposing the terrible treatment of refugees.

“Australians are becoming increasingly concerned with the government’s secrecy, as today’s Galaxy Poll has shown.”


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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