The Australian Democrats have again condemned the Government policy of locking up innocent children in immigration centres, in the wake of evidence of an assault on a child by Detention staff.
A seven year old boy was assaulted with a baton by an officer at Woomera detention centre in 2002, according to a report tabled in the senate today.
The report, by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) found that the boy, his mother and other unarmed women and children were also subjected to tear gas. The woman and her son were found not to have been involved in any of the violence, escapes or damage to property which occurred at Woomera at the time.
Democrats Leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett, who has visited every detention centre in Australia and met with Woomera detainees not long before the escapes, said their despair and desperation was overwhelming.
Australasian Correctional Management, while denying that the baton assault took place, said that such an act would be illegal.
Whilst not admitting the action or any liability, the Immigration Department provided an apology to the woman and her son at the end of 2003, as directed by HREOC.
Senator Bartlett, said the child and his mother could still be in detention.
At least 153 children are in detention centres in Australia and Nauru, according to figures released by A Just Australia, today.
“That children, most of whom are under 12 years of age, have been in the Nauru detention centre for three years, is appalling,” said Senator Bartlett.
“I met with many families when I visited the detention centre for the second time, earlier this year. If their desperate situation continues, a tragedy is inevitable,” Senator Bartlett said.
“I again call on the Immigration Minister to at least go to Nauru and see for herself.
“Senator Vanstone has never even been to the Nauru detention centre that is costing Australian taxpayers so much money and causing so much despair,” concluded Senator Bartlett.
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