All children could be released from Australia’s immigration detention as early as Christmas, due to legislation changes, which passed through the Senate today.
The Greens introduced a set of amendments, that would also grant greater access to detention centres for journalists and make it mandatory to report any child abuse witnessed in the facilities.
The changes also offer greater protection for whistle-blowers, to ensure that doctors and workers can reveal details about what goes on inside the centres without prosecution.
They passed with support from Labor and the cross bench, but will now need support from the Coalition if they are to pass through the House of Representatives.
“The Australian Government has failed these children and the sooner we can get them out, the better,” Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said in a statement earlier today.
“We can no longer sit idly by while these children’s lives are destroyed.”
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oh great, and where are the kids going to go, who will care for them or will they be left to their own devices? How do we deal with the trauma resulting from the damage to the family unit. Do you remember the phrase "stolen generation"? Do-gooders in the past thought they were doing the right thing for the kids too - with massive damage to aboriginal culture and people. So, hey we may as well treat refugee's the same way. Abuse followed by abuse. On ya greens, how many refugee kids will be crying for mum and dad this christmas.
By the way, the rest is excellent