Federal Government 'on notice' over boat people treatment

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has put the Federal Government "on notice" over the treatment of a group of boat people who have been transferred to Christmas Island, saying that it will be a test of the Government's new immigration policy.

Fourteen people whose boat was intercepted near the Ashmore Islands on Monday are being transferred to Christmas Island, ostensibly for health and security checks. It was the first boat to have been intercepted in Australian waters this year.

"This is the first test for Immigration Minister Evans," said Senator Hanson-Young.

"Will the Minister ensure that the detainees' health and security checks are carried out expediently to limit unnecessary time in detention?

"We have heard story after story about the psychological effects that mandatory detention has on detainees.

"Will the Minister be able to guarantee that the Government's new immigration policy is not simply a window-dressed version of the inhumane practices of the Howard years?"

Senator Hanson-Young said that isolated detention centres contributed to an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude towards people seeking asylum in Australia.

"For as long as mandatory detention remains a pillar of the Government's immigration policy, the Greens will be looking very closely to ensure that there is adequate transparency in the new immigration processes, and that checks and balances are applied to these crucial matters of human rights and justice," she said.

"The Greens will be keeping a close watch on the detainees' progress while held in detention on Christmas Island."

For further information please call Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760