2015-10-30
The Australian Greens have congratulated doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for taking a strong stand against children in detention today.
"I left medicine to go into politics for the exact same reason that these health workers are making a stand today: we've got to fix the factors that make people sick. By locking up innocent people, denying them decent medical care and stripping them of all hope we are actively creating harm," said Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale.
"The Greens are doing everything we can in the Parliament to put a stop to it, but with the Liberals, the Nationals and the Labor party all supporting these harsh policies, it's only with the help of courageous people in the community that we can stop it.
"I sincerely thank all the medical professionals who are bravely standing up for the welfare of their patients," said Senator Di Natale.
"These doctors and nurses should be congratulated for trying to protect the hundreds of children that are still locked up in Australia and on Nauru," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
"There is no question that locking children in immigration detention destroys them both mentally and physically.
"My greatest fears are for the children who are being held on Nauru, Australia's very own prison island in the middle of the Pacific.
"By protesting against the government's cruel detention policies, these doctors and nurses are simply looking out for their youngest and most vulnerable patients.
"Locking up people who are seeking asylum and robbing young boys and girls of their childhood is not what we, as a caring people, should be doing.
"Malcolm Turnbull must to get the children out of detention and he needs to do it now," said Senator Hanson-Young.