2015-09-26
The Australian Government should give the United Nations free and unfettered access to Australian run detention centres, the Australian Greens have said, after the independent observer's Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants was forced to cancel an official visit due to lack of government cooperation.
"I am dismayed to see the Turnbull Government blocking the UN's access like this," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"There is no question about it; the government should be cooperating with the United Nations.
"It's very concerning to see the government avoiding scrutiny like this, denying access to independent observers and hiding human rights abuses behind closed doors. This is not the behaviour of a confident and proud Australia.
"As a nation, we're strong enough to protect people looking for safety. We shouldn't be locking people up in secretive black-spots, dotted across Australia and the Pacific.
"Mr Turnbull should open the doors, let the UN in and be accountable. That's the only reasonable thing he can do."
Media Contact: Noah Schultz-Byard 0427 604 760