More good news
December 10, 2007 at 10:55 am ((in)security, Pacific, borders, refugees, state repression, the state)
The government has announced that it will close the Nauru immigration detention centre and end the ‘Pacific solution’. 74 of the 83 asylum seekers on Nauru will be granted refugee status and full protection. The excision zone will be moved back to 2001 borders, meaning that new boat arrivals within Australian waters will be given legal protection.
However, the Christmas Island detention facility (which is currently not operational) will still be detaining refugees.
I’ve also heard that the ALP will abolish temporary protection visas (TPVs) and make substantial changes to mandatory detention arrangements, but those developments have yet to be documented. More updates as government moves!
georgedarroch said,
December 10, 2007 at 11:17 am
I won’t believe any positive rumors about this government until they’re proven true. Shutting down Nauru is just an exercise in moving the refugee system over to Christmas Island… an improvement, but no radical change.
Fire Fly said,
December 10, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Well, it also means the excision zone is going to be contracted, and that boat arrivals picked up off Australia’s coast have a greater chance of accessing legal rights in making their claim for refugee status.
It also makes a huge difference in the lives of the 83 people detained on Nauru.
I don’t think this would have happened without Labor for Refugees and the refugee justice movement fighting for the truth about asylum seekers to be heard, and social justice to be served. In that sense, I think it’s a victory for the refugee justice movement.
But given that the ALP doesn’t control the Senate until June, which is ages in political time, and parliament doesn’t open until early February, there’s still a bit of a wait before any real change is instituted.
George Darroch said,
December 11, 2007 at 5:01 pm
You’re right though, we should celebrate our victories
And this is one…