Amnesty International commends Government on abolition of detention debt
9 September 2009, 04:44PM
Amnesty International welcomes news that on 8 September 2009 the Senate passed the Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009. The organisation noted that the move is an important step towards making Australia’s immigration policy more humane, and bringing the country further in line with its international obligations.
For 17 years, asylum seekers in Australia, including recognised refugees, have been made liable for the costs of their involuntary detention.
Refugees come to Australia fleeing persecution, many of them severely traumatised. When they arrive, they are faced with extended periods of uncertainty and instability. Amnesty International believes the policy of imposing the burden of huge and unmanageable debts upon these people has always been incomprehensible.
Amnesty International commends the Federal Government for taking the step to remove this massive burden from people attempting to rebuild their lives in Australia.
Our refugee campaign is committed to ensuring that all asylum seekers in Australia are treated humanely, fairly and with dignity. We continue to call for further reforms to occur for Australia to fulfil international human rights obligations.
Features and analysis
Healthy homelands
An Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory is showing the government how to close the health gap.
Childbirth in Sierra Leone
Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.
Harming Children
Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.
These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now
By Category
By month
Make an impact
You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.
Check out what 110,760 people are doing right now to support human rights.
Stay Informed
Get Involved
Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.
Sitewide information
- Copyright © Amnesty International Australia
- ABN: 640 0280 6233
- Phone: 1300 300 920
Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Kylie
21 September 2009, 09:05PM
Clearing the debt is fantastic news. These people risk their lives and put themselves in danger to seek help within the country that prides itself on getting a “fair go”. The report’s on Australia’s detention centres to the wider Australian community is skewed and the real proceedings unfortunately not expressed. There is so much cover up and people need to be made aware of the way these people are being inhumanly treated. Detention centres are no place for any one, especially small children. It is a complete breach of human rights and honestly, I believe, it is one of the reasons a bill of human rights wont be passed in Australia, especially with the new population projections for the future. Australia is a rich and prosperous country and we have the capacity for greater occupancy so why don’t we move forward!?
Marilyn
18 September 2009, 11:57PM
But now the truth is coming out that the navy are still brutalising people, we are paying mercenaries to lock them up in ratholes in Indonesia and Christmas Island has been exposed as a horror story by David Marr.
Page 1 of 1 pages