2015-11-23
The Australia Greens will move amendments to a migration bill in the Senate today to bring about an end to the government's practice of locking up children in immigration detention.
"Children don't belong behind bars and they should all be released by Christmas," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"The Turnbull government must chart a new course and show that it is not willing to lock up innocent children indefinitely."
The Greens will move amendments to the 'Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015' in the Senate today that would, among other things;
- See children removed from immigration detention in Australia and,
- Make the reporting of abuse, including child abuse, within detention centres mandatory.
"The Australian Government has failed these children and the sooner we can get them out, the better," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"We can no longer sit idly by while these children's lives are destroyed.
"It's high time this Parliament made the reporting of child abuse in detention centres mandatory. The fact that the Labor and Liberal Parties have ganged up in the past to block this essential move is shameful. I urge them to make sure it doesn't happen again today."
Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760