27 March 2004
CHILDREN IN DETENTION - THE ONGOING SHAME AND DECEIT
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone recently claimed there were only 13 'boat people' children in detention (The Age, 14 Feb).- but the simple fact is that creative accounting hides the truth about Australia's ongoing shameful detention of children.
There are 156 children detained by Australia. The majority (83) are on Nauru. Many of the detained children have been moved into "residential housing projects" (RHP) and so have been left out of the Minister's reckoning, despite the fact that the children remained locked up, under 24 hour guard.
There are still over 450 people in long-term detention in Australia. Fifty percent of those detained in Australian centres have been there for over two years, 25% for over three years. Some have been detained for over five years. There are still 277 people detained in Nauru, and still about 9000 refugees fearing the expiration of their temporary protection visas - and then return to Afghanistan or Iraq where our troops are still engaged.
There are 156 children detained by Australia. The majority (83) are on Nauru. Many of the detained children have been moved into "residential housing projects" (RHP) and so have been left out of the Minister's reckoning, despite the fact that the children remained locked up, under 24 hour guard.
There are still over 450 people in long-term detention in Australia. Fifty percent of those detained in Australian centres have been there for over two years, 25% for over three years. Some have been detained for over five years. There are still 277 people detained in Nauru, and still about 9000 refugees fearing the expiration of their temporary protection visas - and then return to Afghanistan or Iraq where our troops are still engaged.
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