Growing calls to ban child detention

24 Feb 2011, 7:02 pm   -   Source: Auskar Surbakti, SBS
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Former child detainees have handed the Immigration Minister a petition calling for an end to child detention, SBS' Auskar Surbakti reports.

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There is renewed pressure on the federal government to release asylum seeker children from Australia's detention centres.

Former child detainees have handed the Immigration Minister a petition with almost 40,000 signatures, calling for an end to the practice.

It came as SBS learnt that a boy orphaned after the Christmas Island boat diaster has been released.

The government insists that it's on track to move children out of detention by June, and some are counting down the days until that happens.

“What's key here are the next two to three months - will the Minister keep his commitment to get the majority of children out of detention,” said Simon Sheikh, the National Director of the community advocacy group ‘GetUp’.
 
‘GetUp’ has brought former child refugees to meet politicians in Canberra, including Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

Some of their reactions were unexpected.

“We all shared our stories and there were great response from politicians and there were politicians that were actually in tears and we were very surprised to see that,” former refugee Najeeba Wazefadost told SBS.

No one from the Opposition was available to meet them, but others who did say their stories call for immediate action.

“After hearing the harrowing experiences that these young people have been through, it staggers me that anyone would agree that the mandatory of refugee children is acceptable,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young stressed.

The Immigration Department says there are currently 1044 minors in detention and 449 of those are unaccompanied minors

SBS understands that the nine-year-old boy who was orphaned after the Christmas Island boat disaster, is now out of detention and on his way to Sydney.

A relative says that Seena and other Christmas Island detainees are due to land later on Thursday and will, for now, live in a rented home in Sydney's west.

With the Opposition still reeling from its criticisms of the victims' funeral costs, it's reaffirmed its support for multiculturalism.

“We believe that one of Australia's greatest strengths is its cultural diversity,” said Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“We are the most successful immigrant country in the world.”

But with recent division in the Liberal Party over the issue it might not be a universal view.

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Your Comments

another boat today

colonial boy - from europe, 1 year

Yes another 101 illegal immigrants arived today. you´ll find the story hidden here somwhere. Another 25 houses full of liabilities. What are the employment figures for those illegals that have been released. What is the average total cost per annum per illegal entrant. incl. English lessons, school etc. No way they will pay their own pensions let alone mine.The children should be kept with their parents in custody. Bring back the Pacific solution and John Howard.

Centrelink?!?!

Liz - from Melbourne, 1 year

You honestly think people would travel hundreds of miles in a leaky boat for Centerlink? It's barely enough to eat. This kid will pay tax once he's old enough to work. His taxes will pay for your pension.

Getting back some perspective

Garry Bickley - from Adelaide, 1 year

Assange is a scandal. International shrieks of "not charged with any crime", "innocent", "being set up", "only wanted for questioning", "grossly unjust". The world fights his cause. The innocents desperately fleeing for their lives from countries in which our soldiers are fighting and dying are detained indefinitely, while ASIO delays. Their crime is utterly spurious, "queue jumping". Yet the hostility, orchestrated and fed by shock jocks and the Opposition, is palpable. That's a scandal!

human shields

Tommy - from Altona, 1 year

So now we see a human shield of children for asylum seekers to gain entry to Australia and prize of all prizes CENTRELINK. Good on you bleeding hearts thats my tax money you're wasting and its my country that you're stuffing up.

Civilised people do not imprison children and innocent people

Frederika Steen - from Brisbane, 1 year

Rudd made a huge mistake in not rescinding the legislation covering mandatory, non reviewable indefinate detention of asylum seekers who arrive by boat (not plane) when he ended the Pacific Solution (solved nothing) and cancelled Temporary Protection Visas. Both political parties include rusted on monocultural bigots and both are scared to lead and get us back to a humane and decent treatment of people who have suffered too much already. So One Nation wins- unchallenged. Silence is acquiesence.

shame on us

Frederika Steen - from Brisbane, 1 year

There is no justification for detaining asylum seekers let alone children for anthing more than a week or two to register them and conduct initial health and security checks. What we are doing is monstrous, and sad to say it is bipartisan policy. The mental health experts have repeatedly told politicians over ten years that immigration detention of innocent (crime free) asylum seekers creates mental ill health and undermines their settlement success. They ignore the advice, and waste our taxes

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