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Out of sight, out of mind?

By Andrew Bartlett - posted Wednesday, 2 May 2007


Unlike the early years, asylum seekers are allowed free movement around the island during daylight hours, and they have already received visits from people providing legal assistance. The current Nauruan government undoubtedly does not want to see the latest group of asylum seekers subject to a repeat of the past problem of prolonged delays drawn out over many years before their situation is resolved. However, there are already worrying signs, with seven Burmese refugees having been on Nauru for seven months without having an interview regarding their claim.

It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that serious harm occurs to these people from extended uncertainty and lack of control over their future, regardless of the conditions in which they are kept. There is the initial trauma of fleeing persecution, torture and insecurity which is then compounded by being isolated from family, support networks and legal assistance.

The government won’t baulk at spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars on flying officials to and from off-shore facilities, moving asylum seekers from one point to another, upgrading facilities and denying them their basic human rights but they have great difficulty coming to terms with the long term cost of their policies.

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The human and financial cost of off-shore detention will continue to be enormous, and completely unnecessary. Adopting measures in other countries to discourage asylum seekers from undertaking dangerous journeys is one thing, but the suggestion that tormenting innocent people who are already in Australia will somehow be a deterrent to people smugglers is simply a furphy.

Why continue to spend a fortune to pointlessly delay these refugees a secure future, and deny ourselves the contribution we know they bring to Australia when they finally receive the opportunity?

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About the Author

Andrew Bartlett has been active in politics for over 20 years, including as a Queensland Senator from 1997-2008. He graduated from University of Queensland with a degree in social work and has been involved in a wide range of community organisations and issues, including human rights, housing, immigration, Indigneous affairs, environment, animal rights and multiculturalism. He is a member of National Forum. He blogs at Bartlett's Blog.

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