27 May 2005 Proposed Bills to reform mandatory detention

Dear supporters of A Just Australia,

As you will be aware, two Private Members Bills have been proposed by Petro Georgiou, Liberasl MP from Victoria. A Just Australia congratulated Petro Georgiou and other Liberal politicians for taking this important step towards just and humane refugee policy reform. These bills are:

A Bill for an Act of compassion

• to give permanence for holders of temporary protection visas

• long-term detainees who have been in detention for more than a year to be released after individual assessment by a judge with same entitlements as the new bridging visa

• children and families assessed by judge and released unless pose significant danger

• permanent residence for people who cannot be removed after three years awaiting removal

A Bill for an Act to reform the mandatory detention system

•  90 day limit on detention after which judicial review of continued need to detain

• release into community on bridging visa with work rights and Medicare whilst being processed

• for unsuccessful asylum seekers, release into the community whilst awaiting removal, subject to risk assessment and availability for removal

• ending temporary protection with all protection visas to be permanent

These Bills will be discussed in the Liberal party room meeting next Tuesday. Although the chances of it being listed for open debate and a vote in the Chamber are small, it is still a significant moment to make the argument that your local MP ought to support this initiative which brings moderate and common sense adjustments to a system that is failing. Click here for the full text of the bills.

A Just Australia calls on all supporters to call, write or fax your MPs (both Liberal and Labor) to ask them to support the Bills or at least support the need to debate the Bills in Parliament. (Click here to find MP contact details).  

 1.  Call the office of your local MP and use the introduction to the Bills to convince them of the merit of these Bills.

2.  Write a letter to your local MP and/or John Howard and Amanda Vanstone. We suggest also CC-ing Kim Beazley. You can find MPs contact details here

3.  Write letters to the editor of newspapers or call talkback radio, or send this email to friends and colleagues.

The key points you should make are:

• The boats have stopped ? regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq, combined with the curtailing of people smuggling operations in the region have all but ceased boat arrivals

• They are refugees - the majority of boat arrivals were found to be genuine refugees

• Detention is unnecessarily long - there is considerable community concern that asylum seekers continue to be detained for periods longer than the prison sentences imposed on violent criminals, and may be detained indefinitely. Although the integrity of Australia?s borders needs to be protected, this should not be at the expense of human rights.

• Long term detention is harmful ? the federal court has recently found that the government failed in its duty of care to provide adequate services to psychiatrically ill long-term detainees at Baxter

• Refugees are making a contribution to Australia - people on temporary protection visas have been welcomed and integrated by Australian communities, and are making a significant contribution, particularly in regional and rural areas.

• The solutions are already there. Welfare agencies such as Uniting Care have tried and tested programs for the community-based processing of asylum seekers. The
  Better Way
  is one of these programs that could be immediately used.

Kate Gauthier

National Coordinator

A Just Australia

Act of Compassion Bill 74.00 KB

Explanation of Private Members Bill 47.50 KB

Migration Amendment Bill 72.00 KB

myths and facts 32.50 KB