Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has again called on Immigration Minister Chris Evans to urgently implement its ‘new directions’ for Australia’s immigration detention system into legislation, following reports that people are still being detained for prolonged and indefinite periods of time.

The Australian Human Rights Commission's annual report on immigration detention has found that asylum seekers, including children, continue to be held indefinitely, despite assurances by the Rudd Government that detention is only being used as a last resort, and for the shortest possible time.

“It is not good enough that six months after the announcement to change the immigration detention policy, we are still awaiting legislative action,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“We want Minister Evans to have the courage to bring about an end to the archaic immigration policy of the Howard and Ruddock era, and introduce a more humane approach to those seeking our assistance.

“We need an end to mandatory detention, and we must ensure that no child is held in any detention facility.

“Detention facilities on Christmas Island must be closed.  Offshore processing of claims entrenches an out-of-sight out-of-mind approach to asylum seekers, and the psychological and physical effects of remote high-security detention are well known.

Senator Hanson-Young has again called on the Government to bring all current detainees on Christmas Island to the mainland for processing, and implement a less draconian approach to immigration policy.

In particular, the Greens want the Immigration Minister to ensure that any detention decision is subjected to prompt independent review, making detention the exception rather than the rule.

“The lack of available merits and judicial review for people detained in immigration detention has resulted in people being held wrongfully, unlawfully and for a period of years on the basis of contested departmental decisions,” she said.

“The Minister’s good intentions alone are not adequate to protect human rights and justice.  We need to see the courage to change to the law.

Media contact: Emily Johnson on 0427 604 760