Craig Hill Media and Consulting
Immigration detention
Violent asylum seekers released onto Australian streets
Asylum seekers involved in violent attacks while in immigration detention are being released into the community, including one man who assaulted staff and was involved in more than 250 incidents. The violent detainees are released before security checks into their background are completed, according to an insider with intimate knowledge of the detention system. The … Continue reading
Australia’s Nauru asylum centre faces legal challenge
Australia’s asylum seeker processing centre on Nauru will face a legal challenge in the Pacific island nation’s Supreme Court. The case involves 10 asylum seekers who are facing rioting and wilful damage charges. Australian-based barrister Jay Williams, who is representing the detainees, told a Nauruan magistrates court on Wednesday he had been refused access to … Continue reading
Australian Immigration Department criticises government policy as “harsh”
The head of the Immigration Department has sharply criticised the Gillard government‘s decision to increase federal court fees since 2010, arguing the policy has had “harsh” and “unintended” consequences on refugee clients. It is highly unusual for one of the government’s own departments to criticise policy in such a strident way, but in a letter … Continue reading
Australia’s asylum children risk developing mental illness in detention centres
The first children’s commissioner to be given free access to child asylum seekers in Australian detention centres says many fear “going mental” with worry and severe boredom. Tasmanian Children’s Commissioner Aileen Ashford this morning said many of the 137 boys held in an immigration detention centre at Pontville, near Hobart, told her they feared “going … Continue reading
Australian opposition party says asylum-seeker bridging visa system is out of control
Tony Abbott insists the government needs to do more to monitor asylum-seekers who he says are just “disappearing” into the community. Backing comments by his immigration spokesman Scott Morrison, the Opposition Leader said not enough was being done to keep tabs on asylum-seekers released from immigration detention on bridging visas – a claim denied by … Continue reading
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