The UN Human Rights Committee confirmed it is investigating the case of a Vietnamese woman who is subject to deportation and separation from her Australian-born baby. The woman has been in detention since 2017 and gave birth to her daughter while in detention. Her asylum claim was refused and her deportation was ordered. The UN asked the Australian Government to put off deportation until their investigation is complete and the government has confirmed it is now undertaking its own investigation into the matter.
Behrouz Boochani told Radio NZ that the conditions in Bomana prison will lead to more deaths. He said the men have lost a lot of weight, do not have access to their mobile phones and are not getting any medical treatment. His fears are echoed by the Australian Director of Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson. Ms Pearson argued that the detention conditions contravene local and international law.
Two Saudi men, a couple, who have been held in immigration detention since they arrived in Australia say they have been treated like criminals and fear for their safety in detention. In a Radio National interview they explained that they were questioned by Australian Border Force officers at the airport where they admitted that they intended to apply for asylum. On arrival at the detention centre their room-mates reportedly threatened them and refused to allow them into their allocated rooms.
Craig Foster called on MPs to go to PNG and Nauru to meet the people who would be affected by a repeal of the medevac legislation. Foster is a former Socceroo and led the campaign to secure Hakim Al-Araibi’s return to Australia. The Government is committed to repealing the medevac legislation and needs the support of the Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie to achieve this.