Australia changes asylum seeker detention policies
Updated
The Australian government plans to overhaul Australia's mandatory detention policies.
Mandatory detention will be kept, but significantly altered. There will also be an emphasis on only detaining asylum seekers who pose a risk to the community.
Presenter: Michael Edwards
Speakers: Marion Lay, refugee advocate; Dr Graham Thom, Amnesty International; Liberal MP Judy Moyland
MICHAEL EDWARDS: The Federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans is set to make a speech today outlining changes to the mandatory detention policy.
AM understands mandatory detention will remain but it will instead focus on asylum seekers who pose a risk to the community.
Refugee Advocate Marion Le says she hopes this means most detainees will eventually be able to be released into the community.
MARION LE: Well my understanding would be that he's actually looking at releasing all people who are now detained except those who pose a verifiable I hope, risk to the Australian public or to security.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: AM also understands moves will be made to avoid detaining asylum seekers for long periods of time and that legal assistance will be offered to people denied a visa.
Marion Le says it's a welcome move from the Labor government.
MARION LE: Look I welcome any move by this Government to overcome the years of callous misdirection and abuse, absolute abuse of human beings by the Howard government during the years of the mandatory detention regime.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Dr Graham Thom from Amnesty International is another refugee advocate hoping the changes will mean the release of many from detention.
Dr Thom says it will send an important message that Australia respects human rights.
GRAHAM THOM: Well I think it's an important signal that Australia is looking to re-engage with its international obligations that we no longer want to be a pariah when it comes to how we detain people who are simply exercising a fundamental human right.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Another welcoming the changes the Federal Liberal politician, Judi Moylan.
Ms Moylan was one of a group of Liberal politicians who opposed their own party's immigration policies while in government.
JUDI MOYLAN: Clearly my view is well known on this and I don't believe we should be keeping people in detention centres any more than we absolutely have to. There may be occasions when it's necessary but on the face of it I would welcome such a move.
