The Australian Greens have slammed the Abbott Government for planning to use $4 million of taxpayer money to fund a new telemovie that seeks to deter asylum seekers coming to Australia, telling them instead to remain in warzones.  

“This is more Abbott Government propaganda paid for by the Australian taxpayer,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens have today written to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to request that allegations of sexual abuse in Australia’s immigration detention centres be investigated.

The Australian Government was aware of incidents of abuse against women and children on Nauru long before the Moss review was instigated, yet the Minister continued to detain people on the island, the Australian Greens have said.

“It is abhorrent that despite knowing that women and children were subjected to sexual abuse and harassment both the former and current Immigration Ministers continued to lock people up there”, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“It is truly tragic that a young man has been driven to such despair that he is willing to forgo his life rather than return to his homeland”, Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Hanson-Young said.

“What kind of country have we become when people would rather starve themselves to death than remain in detention or be deported?

The Australian Greens have today said that Department of Immigration has a lot to answer for following the ‘accidental’ release of several world leaders’ personal details.

"The level of incompetency of this government is startling, first the leak and then to have not even notified those implicated is bad form. You've got to wonder if the Abbott Government could be trusted to organise a bun fight in a bakery, Greens’ spokesperson for immigration, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said." 

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection must direct his Department to review the case of Iranian asylum seeker, Saeed Hassanloo, the Australian Greens have said today.

The Australian Greens are today calling on the government to show some compassion toward a 25 year old Iranian asylum seeker who is close to death after 38 days of hunger striking.

“It is truly tragic that a young man has been driven to such despair that he is willing to forgo his life rather than return to his homeland”, Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Hanson-Young said.

“What kind of country have we become when people would rather starve themselves to death than remain in detention or be deported?

The Australian Greens have today said that Department of Immigration has a lot to answer for following the ‘accidental’ release of several world leaders’ personal details.

The Senate has voted to establish a Senate Select Committee inquiry into the Nauru detention camp and the ongoing allegations of abuse against women and children, the Australian Greens have said.

"There are some very dark corners in the detention camp on Nauru and now, finally, the truth can be revealed," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said

"This is about keeping the women and children on Nauru safe from abuse.

Genuine refugees will be denied protection and forcefully returned to danger in their home countries following the passage of the Abbott government's Protection and Other Measures Bill, the Australian Greens have said.

"The Abbott government's obsession with punishing refugees is putting lives at risk," the Greens' immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.