Refugee Advocacy Network |

ERC research in Afghanistan uncovers grave dangers faced by deportees from Australia

May 16, 2012

“In this visit to Kabul, further to our previous visits, we met and interviewed another 31 returned asylum seekers. 29 of these 31 are living in extreme danger,” affirmed ERC Director, Phil Glendenning. “We confirmed the deaths of another two returnees and the kidnapping of one other who is now presumed dead.” “The majority of these men are unable to live with their wives and children because of the risk their simple presence would pose to the safety of their…

Greens urge govt stop destroying families and change ASIO Act

May 14, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

The Australian Greens have today urged the federal government to change the ASIO Act after revelations another family has been torn apart and faces indefinite detention even though they have been granted refugee protection. “The Greens were deeply upset by last night’s Lateline story on a young Sri Lankan woman and her two sons who have been removed from Melbourne to Villawood detention centre,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “Australia authorities found they were refugees and gave them…

Greens successfully create inquiry into Indonesian children held in Australian adult prisons

May 11, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

The Australian Greens today announce they’ve successfully created a parliamentary inquiry to examine whether Indonesian children are being held in facilities such as prisons and remand centres where adults are also kept. “There are at least two dozen Indonesians who may be children who have been convicted and jailed alongside Australian adult offenders,” Greens’ immigration and youth affairs spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “The Attorney-General has announced these 24 cases will be reviewed, and while we welcome that, parliament must…

Immigration Dept’s budget blow out was avoidable with time limits and more community release places: Greens

May 9, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

The blow out of more than $1 billion dollars in the Immigration Department’s budget was avoidable had the government finally put time limits on detention and increased community release places, the Australian Greens said today. “The annual average cost of a community release programme is $10,400 per person, compared to more than $137,000 if an asylum seeker is kept indefinitely in a detention centre,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “Detention centre operating costs are of course higher for…

Reduce Immigration Dept’s slice of budget spending with detention time limits and more community release places: Greens

May 6, 2012

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Archived Press Releases

The government can trim the Immigration Department’s budget from blowing out in the vicinity of $3 billion this Tuesday by putting time limits on detention and funding more community release places for asylum seekers, the Australian Greens say. “It’s 90 percent cheaper and 100 percent fairer for asylum seekers to live in the community once health and security checks prove it’s safe than warehousing them in detention centres,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, said today. “Given community release schemes cost…