2016-04-03
The Australian Greens have called on the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to rule out sending any children currently in Australia back to Nauru.
"Peter Dutton's sleight of hand and his willingness to use children as political pawns is deplorable," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"While it's good to see the government being forced into releasing children from detention, it means nothing while the Minister plans to send them back to Nauru.
"Peter Dutton should allow these families and children to apply for visas in Australia, so that they can get on with rebuilding their lives in safety."
The Australian Greens also called on Minister Dutton to clarify the situation facing families and children who are still being held in the Villawood Detention Centre.
"On the very day he declares that all children are free, we find out that some are still in Villawood and have simply had the name of their detention facility changed," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"This sort of deception is deeply unfortunate but unsurprising from this deceptive Minister for Immigration."