Senate debates

Thursday, 5 February 2009

Immigration Detention

10:58 am

Photo of Sarah Hanson-YoungSarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 341 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

(a)
notes:
(i)
the release in January 2009, of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2008 Immigration detention report, and
(ii)
this report highlights, among other things, that asylum seekers, including children, are able to still be held indefinitely, despite assurances by the Rudd Government that detention is only being used as a last resort, and for the shortest possible time;
(b)
recognises that the lack of available merits and judicial review for people detained in immigration detention has resulted in people being held wrongfully, unlawfully and for a period of years; and
(c)
calls on the Government to translate its ‘new directions’ for Australia’s immigration detention system into policy, practice and legislative change as soon as possible.