The latest tragic loss of life at sea, together with the record breaking numbers of boat arrivals, point to a fundamental failure of the government’s offshore detention and ‘no advantage’ policies.

“The policy has failed to stop the boats and has sadly failed to stop boat tragedies,” said the Greens’ immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young today.

Australia needs an independent guardian for all refugee children in detention, the Australian Greens said today.

“Independent guardianship is essential because someone needs to stand up and take care of these children,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“While inspecting the PNG detention centre this week I heard concerning reports that an unaccompanied child may currently be held on Manus Island.

The Australian Government should choose to do the right thing and shut down its offshore detention centres, instead of running the risk of being forced to do so by the PNG legal system, the Australian Greens said today.

“The indefinite and arbitrary detention of refugee children is beyond moral comprehension and the Australian Government must act to bring these children back to Australia before any more damage is done,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

The Australian Greens were saddened to hear today that the Government is removing an essential part of Australian legislation, designed to reunite refugees with their families, and have renewed their calls for Minister Bowen to reveal the entirety of contracts covering service providers at the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres.