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Four Corners’ Smuggling Circus Freak Show fails investigative framework

June 8, 2012

“Four Corners has now well and truly established its own “me too” Canberra-derived national discourse of Evil Smugglers’ stories, a media freak show that started with commercial television serials, cheapskate sensationalist so-called “investigations” with overblown claims, a must-see freak show that has now also become established at the ABC – all of them failing to address how Canberra’s manipulative avoidance of people in transit in Indonesia is building, sponsoring and sustaining people smuggling as an industry,” WA Human Rights group…

It’s the Government, not the People Smugglers that has Blood on its Hands

June 8, 2012

adm1ncontrol

Archived Press Releases

The Four Corners’ people smuggling program has only added to the demonisation that surrounds the media and politicians’ portrayal of people smugglers. Rather than exposing a trans-national criminal network, Four Corners has revealed, what is so often the case, that people arranging boats for asylum seekers to come to Australia have often been refugees themselves, motivated by concerns for the safety of their families or asylum seekers from the same country. Ten of 16 people convicted for people smuggling between 2001 and 2006 were indeed refugees themselves.…

New ‘asylum seeker syndrome’ is avoidable with time limits on detention: Greens

May 23, 2012

adm1ncontrol

Archived Press Releases

A new psychological condition diagnosed among asylum seekers held in indefinite detention is further evidence of the need to put time-limits on detention and close remote and isolated detention centres, the Australian Greens said today. “The discovery of this new mental illness syndrome is nothing for Australia to be proud of,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “It is saddening to learn that this new condition is being created because of the long-term and indefinite detention of vulnerable people…

Greens to amend ASIO Act so refugees and their children can challenge indefinite detention

May 23, 2012

adm1ncontrol

Archived Press Releases

The Australian Greens said today they will seek to amend the ASIO Act so refugees, including children, are no longer detained for the rest of their lives because of adverse security assessments which cannot be challenged. “There is a problem with the current law that allows for a young mother and her children to be detained indefinitely, effectively for the rest of their lives without explanation or ability to challenge,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “No one with…

Summary of 2012-13 Federal Budget measures affecting refugees

May 16, 2012

adm1ncontrol

Archived Press Releases

KEY POINTS The Refugee and Humanitarian Program will remain static at 13,750 places The Government will be seeking the community’s views on the feasibility of introducing a private sponsorship pilot program to enhance the humanitarian program. Government funding for refugee and migrant settlement services will total $334.4 million, an increase of just 1.4%. There will be a decrease in funding for the Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) program, primarily as a result of capping the maximum level of humanitarian settlement services to…