2016-03-02
The Australian Greens have today introduced a Private Members Bill into the Senate that would end the government's practice of locking children up in immigration detention.
By ensuring that children can't be held for more than 30 days, the Bill would force the Immigration Minister to place children and their families into the community, so that they can rebuild their lives.
"Children don't belong in detention and this Bill will force the government to finally get them out," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"The community has had enough of the government's cruelty and are calling out for a better way to support people seeking asylum.
"The Greens want to see a fair and efficient system put in place to process people's claims for asylum and bring them here safely."
The 'Migration Amendment (Free The Children) 2015' Bill will also protect children held on Nauru, by ensuring that the Minister cannot send children to be detained in another country and requiring the immediate return to Australia of any child currently held offshore.
"The children who were dumped on Nauru have been through enough and it's time to bring them home," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"This Bill will protect the children in Australia and on Nauru. It's high time the government stopped locking up children and I appeal to my Senate colleagues to back this essential reform."
Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760