Refugee Update
Jun. 28th, 2015 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamer_easyThis week, the High Court gave the go-ahead to a legal challenge to offshore processing brought by the Human Rights Law Centre, which argued that the government does not have the legal authority to detain people overseas or to pay for their detention. The government and the opposition hastened to pass legislation closing the "loophole". (Amongst others, independent Senator Andrew Wilkie was not impressed, describing Australia's refugee regime as a "crime against humanity".) The challenge will go ahead nonetheless.
Almost a third of the asylum seekers on Manus Island are bringing a legal challenge against their detention, arguing that it violates Papua New Guinea's Constitution. (ABC, 23 June)
Also last week, about forty asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru, including a second baby, despite a doctor's "grave concern" for the first baby to be sent, and warnings from Save the Children, who are providing welfare at the detention centre.
tbh this is weird behaviour from a government obsessively sensitive about the truth leaking out of the detention centres: for example, the Border Force Act, which is about to come into effect, threatens two years' jail for doctors who publicly describe detainees' physical and mental condition, in direct conflict with the AMA's Code of Conduct. Surely Abbot and co. understand the disastrous PR potential of dead babies?
The Senate's inquiry into detention on Nauru continues, with testimony that guards paid for, and videotaped, sex with detainees, amongst other allegations.
Eight Nauru guards suspended from work after attending an Islamophobic rally have now be reinstated.
The Senate will hold an inquiry into the government's cash payments to people smugglers to return their passengers to Indonesia. This was apparently the first time smugglers have been bribed to take asylum seekers back. Officials from that country fear the payments will revive the dwindling business.
Iran may agree to allow Australia to return asylum seekers to the country they fled.
Almost a third of the asylum seekers on Manus Island are bringing a legal challenge against their detention, arguing that it violates Papua New Guinea's Constitution. (ABC, 23 June)
Also last week, about forty asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru, including a second baby, despite a doctor's "grave concern" for the first baby to be sent, and warnings from Save the Children, who are providing welfare at the detention centre.
tbh this is weird behaviour from a government obsessively sensitive about the truth leaking out of the detention centres: for example, the Border Force Act, which is about to come into effect, threatens two years' jail for doctors who publicly describe detainees' physical and mental condition, in direct conflict with the AMA's Code of Conduct. Surely Abbot and co. understand the disastrous PR potential of dead babies?
The Senate's inquiry into detention on Nauru continues, with testimony that guards paid for, and videotaped, sex with detainees, amongst other allegations.
Eight Nauru guards suspended from work after attending an Islamophobic rally have now be reinstated.
The Senate will hold an inquiry into the government's cash payments to people smugglers to return their passengers to Indonesia. This was apparently the first time smugglers have been bribed to take asylum seekers back. Officials from that country fear the payments will revive the dwindling business.
Iran may agree to allow Australia to return asylum seekers to the country they fled.
