Refugee Update

Baby Asha: Authorities preparing to remove asylum seeker baby from Lady Cilento Hospital, refugee advocates say (GA, 21 February 2016). Hundreds of protesters are there.

Malcolm Turnbull's asylum seeker plan smacks of desperation, critics say (SMH, 20 February 2015): Refugee advocates have warned that two of the three countries – Malaysia and Indonesia – are not signatories to the Refugee Convention and none of them, including the third country, The Philippines, have resettlement programs." Refugee advocate Pamela Curr: "The idea that they would have rejected offers by New Zealand to take refugees, in favour of these countries is mind-blowing."

Doctors urged to boycott work in 'torturous' immigration detention centres (SMH, 19 February 2015) This would not affect the care of detainees, since most of the medical personnel are now not Australians (perhaps because Australian medical staff have the unhelpful habit of actually telling the public what's going on in there, even at the risk of jail time).

Some good refugee news for a change!

Baby Asha will be transferred to Brisbane community detention: Peter Dutton (ABC, 21 February 2016) | Baby Asha: immigration minister confirms community detention in Australia (GA, 21 February 2016) | Peter Dutton: Baby Asha won't be sent back to Nauru (SMH, 21 February 2016) The Minister for Immigration is claiming that moving the family to community detention has always been the government's plan, which is a bit like a cat nonchalantly washing itself after falling off the windowsill. "I meant to do that."

Asylum seeker pair leaves Nauru 'black hole' to be reunited with family in Canada (ABC, 21 February 2016)