As of 14th October 2010 there are 723 children in detention in Australia. These children range in age from newborn to 18 years of age, including three babies who were born in detention. Children are some of the most vulnerable people in our community. How we treat children shapes their future, impacts what sort of
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Last week Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the immediate lifting of the six month freeze imposed in April on the processing of Afghan asylum seekers. The decision was cautiously welcomed by UNHCR and other refugee advocates, yet they also warned against praising the government for ending a policy that should not have been introduced in
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Julia Gillard’s devotion to the establishment of a regional refugee processing centre in East Timor appears unwavering. Last week she reiterated her commitment to the proposal in discussions with East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. The proposal stands as the centrepiece of the Government’s border protection policy – a policy focused on stemming the influx
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The third Scanlon Foundation Survey, entitled Mapping Social Cohesion, was released last week. Authored by Professor Andrew Markus of Monash University, the report charts the attitudes of Australians around a number of population issues. The survey’s exploration of Australian attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers makes for interesting reading. The results highlight the gulf in
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On 10th September, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) issued a media release stating that 34 school-aged children currently detained in Darwin would begin attending classes the following Monday after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between itself and the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training. The NT News picked up
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