Amnesty’s National Refugee Campaigner, Graeme McGregor, drew on firsthand accounts from his research visit to Manus Island that informed the highly publicised This is Breaking People report, released in November 2013, on the appalling conditions in the Australian government-controlled detention centre.
“There are cheaper, humane approaches to processing asylum seekers and refugees, so why do we continue to spend an exorbitant amount of money on mandatory detention where we expose people to cruel and inhuman treatment?” he said.
Dr Ben Saul, Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney, systematically outlined the breaches of international human rights and refugee law entrenched in Australia’s current policy of mandatory detention. In particular, he highlighted the traumatising impact that detention has on the mental health of refugees, and the notable issue of indefinite detention in regards to negative ASIO security assessments.
Refugee lawyer, Jo Murphy, a migration agent and a member of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties Asylum Seekers Subcommittee, reflected on the heartbreaking stories of some of her clients. After fleeing horrific violence, many continue to endure pain and suffering because of the uncertainty of their futures while waiting in detention.
Professor of Public Law at University of Sydney, Mary Crock, focused her presentation on particularly “vulnerable” refugees – those with a disability and children – noting various inconsistencies with the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mary Crock posed a simple question: “Why torture people?”
The astronomical cost of detention was also highlighted by each speaker, especially in light of the recent Commission of Audit, which showed projections for government spending on offshore detention for the next four years to hit a jaw-dropping $10 billion.
A Q&A discussion followed, giving audience members a chance to ask the panel about some of their concerns with the policies. Many participants were keen to find positive ways to influence those who are less informed on the issue.
NSW Refugee Network Co-convenor Lorraine Walsh said the group was thrilled with the turnout, and felt that the event was a success.
“Our aim was to equip people with knowledge to be able to have informed conversations about what is an area of great concern for many people,” she said. “This panel was one with incredible experience and expertise, and we believe that everyone walked away with the capacity to change the dialogue around these issues, one conversation at a time.”
