[Greens-Media] Greens’ bill to strip Immigration Minister of guardianship

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

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Greens’ bill to strip Immigration Minister of guardianship

The Greens ‘Guardian for Unaccompanied Children Bill’, which would see the legal guardianship of unaccompanied refugee children taken from the Immigration Minister, will be introduced into the Senate today.

“Despite being the legal guardian to almost 400 refugee children in Australia, the Immigration Minister is still insisting on putting them behind bars,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“Right now dozens of unaccompanied children are locked up in horrific conditions on Nauru and Christmas Island. It’s high time the Minister was stripped of his role as these children’s official guardian.”

The inappropriate nature of the Minister’s guardianship was put into stark relief when 12 young refugees from Adelaide fled in terror after their friends were rounded up and put into detention last week.

“These children were forced into hiding as they fled from their official guardian, the Immigration Minister. Many of these children have been running from danger for their entire lives and this bill will simply give them a genuine guardian who will actually look after them,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“As it stands, these kids have been abandoned by the Australian legal system and imprisoned by the very person who is supposed to be caring for them.

“Scott Morrison is these children’s jailer, not their guardian, and I call on all of my colleagues in the Parliament to support this bill.”


The Greens’ bill would establish an independent office of Guardian for Unaccompanied Children, which would;


-          Advocate for the best interests of unaccompanied minors, including advocating against their detention and ensuring appropriate care, education and support

-          Consult with other agencies and services

-          Report directly to Parliament

-          Monitor and review laws, policies and practices which impact on unaccompanied minors

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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