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UN made no complaint about detention centres'
UN made no complaint about detention centres, says Downer
June 6 2002
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today a UN delegation had not told him of its reported concerns that Australia's detention of asylum seekers was a gross abuse of human rights.
The visiting United Nations delegation's head, Louis Joinet, made no direct assault on Australia's policy at all in a meeting last night, Mr Downer said.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mr Joinet had privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention centres around the world.
Mr Downer said he had a very friendly meeting with Mr Joinet for about half an hour.
"To be frank with you he just explained the position of the UN committee and what work they were doing," he told reporters.
"I explained to him the nature of our detention policy, that we were maintaining that policy, that it had been a successful policy, it was helping to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Australia.
"There wasn't an enormous amount more to the conversation than that because it was rather interrupted (by parliamentary division bells)."
Mr Downer said Mr Joinet was not judgmental because the group had yet to write its report.
"He didn't attack the detention centres at all in that sense, in the way it's described in the Sydney Morning Herald today.
"He may have said that to someone else, I have no idea."
June 6 2002
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today a UN delegation had not told him of its reported concerns that Australia's detention of asylum seekers was a gross abuse of human rights.
The visiting United Nations delegation's head, Louis Joinet, made no direct assault on Australia's policy at all in a meeting last night, Mr Downer said.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mr Joinet had privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention centres around the world.
Mr Downer said he had a very friendly meeting with Mr Joinet for about half an hour.
"To be frank with you he just explained the position of the UN committee and what work they were doing," he told reporters.
"I explained to him the nature of our detention policy, that we were maintaining that policy, that it had been a successful policy, it was helping to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Australia.
"There wasn't an enormous amount more to the conversation than that because it was rather interrupted (by parliamentary division bells)."
Mr Downer said Mr Joinet was not judgmental because the group had yet to write its report.
"He didn't attack the detention centres at all in that sense, in the way it's described in the Sydney Morning Herald today.
"He may have said that to someone else, I have no idea."
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Worst I've seen, says UN asylum inspector
By Michael Millett
June 6 2002
Embarrassment for the Government ... the Woomera detention centre.
The United Nations has expressed its disgust at Australia's mandatory detention system, describing the Howard Government's policy of locking up asylum seekers for long periods as a gross abuse of human rights.
The stinging condemnation came yesterday from the head of a special UN delegation during private talks with two senior Government ministers.
The Herald has learnt that the head of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Louis Joinet, warned the Government he would declare his objections at a press conference today.
It is understood that Mr Joinet privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention facilities around the world.
The UN's dismay was conveyed in separate meetings with the Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
Today's public condemnation will be a severe embarrassment for the Government, given its repeated assurances that its treatment of asylum cases - notably its rigid adherence to a policy of mandatory detention - does not breach international standards.
Mr Ruddock has touted the system as a model for other countries to follow in dealing with mass people movements.
This week he told Parliament that a number of European countries, including Britain, had begun implementing elements of the Australian approach.
But Mr Ruddock has been in conflict with the judiciary over his handling of immigration, and the detention system was criticised by another UN representative, Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati, in private talks with the Government last week. The judge, an envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Mr Joinet's team have just finished inspecting a number of detention centres.
The tours - tightly orchestrated by the Government amid accusations that millions of dollars were spent sprucing up the centres - included visits to Port Hedland, Woomera and Villawood.
The UN inspectors spent several hours interviewing detainees about camp conditions.
Mr Joinet's meeting with Mr Downer was delayed until late last night, giving the Government little time to prepare for the political fallout.
But Mr Downer told Mr Joinet the mandatory detention policy was deemed to be very successful and there was "no reason to modify it".
The Government had been bracing for an adverse finding since it gave grudging acceptance earlier this year to the inspections.
The visitors' findings bring the Government into direct confrontation with the UN.
But the mandatory detention policy has strong public support. While Labor is split over the issue, the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, has vowed to retain mandatory detenti
By Michael Millett
June 6 2002
Embarrassment for the Government ... the Woomera detention centre.
The United Nations has expressed its disgust at Australia's mandatory detention system, describing the Howard Government's policy of locking up asylum seekers for long periods as a gross abuse of human rights.
The stinging condemnation came yesterday from the head of a special UN delegation during private talks with two senior Government ministers.
The Herald has learnt that the head of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Louis Joinet, warned the Government he would declare his objections at a press conference today.
It is understood that Mr Joinet privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention facilities around the world.
The UN's dismay was conveyed in separate meetings with the Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
Today's public condemnation will be a severe embarrassment for the Government, given its repeated assurances that its treatment of asylum cases - notably its rigid adherence to a policy of mandatory detention - does not breach international standards.
Mr Ruddock has touted the system as a model for other countries to follow in dealing with mass people movements.
This week he told Parliament that a number of European countries, including Britain, had begun implementing elements of the Australian approach.
But Mr Ruddock has been in conflict with the judiciary over his handling of immigration, and the detention system was criticised by another UN representative, Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati, in private talks with the Government last week. The judge, an envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Mr Joinet's team have just finished inspecting a number of detention centres.
The tours - tightly orchestrated by the Government amid accusations that millions of dollars were spent sprucing up the centres - included visits to Port Hedland, Woomera and Villawood.
The UN inspectors spent several hours interviewing detainees about camp conditions.
Mr Joinet's meeting with Mr Downer was delayed until late last night, giving the Government little time to prepare for the political fallout.
But Mr Downer told Mr Joinet the mandatory detention policy was deemed to be very successful and there was "no reason to modify it".
The Government had been bracing for an adverse finding since it gave grudging acceptance earlier this year to the inspections.
The visitors' findings bring the Government into direct confrontation with the UN.
But the mandatory detention policy has strong public support. While Labor is split over the issue, the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, has vowed to retain mandatory detenti
Worst I've seen, says UN asylum inspector
By Michael Millett
June 6 2002
Embarrassment for the Government ... the Woomera detention centre.
The United Nations has expressed its disgust at Australia's mandatory detention system, describing the Howard Government's policy of locking up asylum seekers for long periods as a gross abuse of human rights.
The stinging condemnation came yesterday from the head of a special UN delegation during private talks with two senior Government ministers.
The Herald has learnt that the head of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Louis Joinet, warned the Government he would declare his objections at a press conference today.
It is understood that Mr Joinet privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention facilities around the world.
The UN's dismay was conveyed in separate meetings with the Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
Today's public condemnation will be a severe embarrassment for the Government, given its repeated assurances that its treatment of asylum cases - notably its rigid adherence to a policy of mandatory detention - does not breach international standards.
Mr Ruddock has touted the system as a model for other countries to follow in dealing with mass people movements.
This week he told Parliament that a number of European countries, including Britain, had begun implementing elements of the Australian approach.
But Mr Ruddock has been in conflict with the judiciary over his handling of immigration, and the detention system was criticised by another UN representative, Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati, in private talks with the Government last week. The judge, an envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Mr Joinet's team have just finished inspecting a number of detention centres.
The tours - tightly orchestrated by the Government amid accusations that millions of dollars were spent sprucing up the centres - included visits to Port Hedland, Woomera and Villawood.
The UN inspectors spent several hours interviewing detainees about camp conditions.
Mr Joinet's meeting with Mr Downer was delayed until late last night, giving the Government little time to prepare for the political fallout.
But Mr Downer told Mr Joinet the mandatory detention policy was deemed to be very successful and there was "no reason to modify it".
The Government had been bracing for an adverse finding since it gave grudging acceptance earlier this year to the inspections.
The visitors' findings bring the Government into direct confrontation with the UN.
But the mandatory detention policy has strong public support. While Labor is split over the issue, the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, has vowed to retain mandatory detenti
By Michael Millett
June 6 2002
Embarrassment for the Government ... the Woomera detention centre.
The United Nations has expressed its disgust at Australia's mandatory detention system, describing the Howard Government's policy of locking up asylum seekers for long periods as a gross abuse of human rights.
The stinging condemnation came yesterday from the head of a special UN delegation during private talks with two senior Government ministers.
The Herald has learnt that the head of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Louis Joinet, warned the Government he would declare his objections at a press conference today.
It is understood that Mr Joinet privately told welfare groups he had not seen a more gross abuse of human rights in more than 40 inspections of mandatory detention facilities around the world.
The UN's dismay was conveyed in separate meetings with the Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, and the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer.
Today's public condemnation will be a severe embarrassment for the Government, given its repeated assurances that its treatment of asylum cases - notably its rigid adherence to a policy of mandatory detention - does not breach international standards.
Mr Ruddock has touted the system as a model for other countries to follow in dealing with mass people movements.
This week he told Parliament that a number of European countries, including Britain, had begun implementing elements of the Australian approach.
But Mr Ruddock has been in conflict with the judiciary over his handling of immigration, and the detention system was criticised by another UN representative, Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati, in private talks with the Government last week. The judge, an envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and Mr Joinet's team have just finished inspecting a number of detention centres.
The tours - tightly orchestrated by the Government amid accusations that millions of dollars were spent sprucing up the centres - included visits to Port Hedland, Woomera and Villawood.
The UN inspectors spent several hours interviewing detainees about camp conditions.
Mr Joinet's meeting with Mr Downer was delayed until late last night, giving the Government little time to prepare for the political fallout.
But Mr Downer told Mr Joinet the mandatory detention policy was deemed to be very successful and there was "no reason to modify it".
The Government had been bracing for an adverse finding since it gave grudging acceptance earlier this year to the inspections.
The visitors' findings bring the Government into direct confrontation with the UN.
But the mandatory detention policy has strong public support. While Labor is split over the issue, the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, has vowed to retain mandatory detenti
Crown fights bail ruling on detainees
05.06.2002
By HELEN TUNNAH
The Crown will appeal against a court ruling giving asylum seekers held in jail or at the Mangere refugee centre the right to apply for bail.
Lawyers for the Attorney-General will ask the Court of Appeal to overturn Justice David Baragwanath's interim High Court ruling that people claiming to be refugees can ask for bail while their status is assessed.
Last Friday, Justice Baragwanath said a new Government policy of detaining virtually all asylum seekers broke United Nations rules and could not be sustained.
He stopped short of declaring the detentions unlawful, pending his final judgment, but said the policy introduced after the September 11 terrorist attacks breached the UN Convention on Refugees of which New Zealand is a signatory.
In the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Crown lawyer Andrew Butler sought a stay on the interim order, which would have prevented any claimants applying for bail over the next week, but Justice Baragwanath declined the application.
He said he was reluctant to deprive a person of the right to apply for bail. He said if someone was wrongly detained, the court should terminate that.
"I do not want refugee status claimants to be detained a moment longer than necessary.
"There may be some who are rightly detained. There may be others who ought not be detained when the merits are looked at."
He said a bail hearing could consider those merits.
He cited as a hypothetical example the case of a 97-year-old woman in a nun's habit who may have forgotten her passport. Any detention of her would in his view be wrong.
Justice Baragwanath was asked to review the legality of the detentions by the Refugee Council of New Zealand and the Human Rights Foundation, which argued that the detentions breached the convention and broke New Zealand law.
One refugee who was detained, known only as D, has filed a compensation claim for wrongful arrest for $150,000. Other damages claims are expected to follow if the Crown loses the case.
The new policy of detaining refugee claimants, either at Mt Eden Remand Centre or the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, was introduced on September 19.
Previously, just 5 per cent of refugee claimants were detained. After the new policy was introduced by the Immigration Service, detentions rose to about 95 per cent or 208 out of 221 people who arrived here between September 19 and January 31.
Human Rights Foundation spokesman Peter Hosking said he welcomed Justice Baragwanath's interim decision but was disappointed that the Crown intended to appeal over the bail ruling.
He said the foundation did not disagree with detaining people considered a real risk to New Zealand.
However, those caught up in past detentions included a pregnant woman and a 14-year-old boy.
"We too are concerned about security but we think just because there are concerns about a few doesn't justify detaining everybody."
Feature: Immigration
05.06.2002
By HELEN TUNNAH
The Crown will appeal against a court ruling giving asylum seekers held in jail or at the Mangere refugee centre the right to apply for bail.
Lawyers for the Attorney-General will ask the Court of Appeal to overturn Justice David Baragwanath's interim High Court ruling that people claiming to be refugees can ask for bail while their status is assessed.
Last Friday, Justice Baragwanath said a new Government policy of detaining virtually all asylum seekers broke United Nations rules and could not be sustained.
He stopped short of declaring the detentions unlawful, pending his final judgment, but said the policy introduced after the September 11 terrorist attacks breached the UN Convention on Refugees of which New Zealand is a signatory.
In the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Crown lawyer Andrew Butler sought a stay on the interim order, which would have prevented any claimants applying for bail over the next week, but Justice Baragwanath declined the application.
He said he was reluctant to deprive a person of the right to apply for bail. He said if someone was wrongly detained, the court should terminate that.
"I do not want refugee status claimants to be detained a moment longer than necessary.
"There may be some who are rightly detained. There may be others who ought not be detained when the merits are looked at."
He said a bail hearing could consider those merits.
He cited as a hypothetical example the case of a 97-year-old woman in a nun's habit who may have forgotten her passport. Any detention of her would in his view be wrong.
Justice Baragwanath was asked to review the legality of the detentions by the Refugee Council of New Zealand and the Human Rights Foundation, which argued that the detentions breached the convention and broke New Zealand law.
One refugee who was detained, known only as D, has filed a compensation claim for wrongful arrest for $150,000. Other damages claims are expected to follow if the Crown loses the case.
The new policy of detaining refugee claimants, either at Mt Eden Remand Centre or the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, was introduced on September 19.
Previously, just 5 per cent of refugee claimants were detained. After the new policy was introduced by the Immigration Service, detentions rose to about 95 per cent or 208 out of 221 people who arrived here between September 19 and January 31.
Human Rights Foundation spokesman Peter Hosking said he welcomed Justice Baragwanath's interim decision but was disappointed that the Crown intended to appeal over the bail ruling.
He said the foundation did not disagree with detaining people considered a real risk to New Zealand.
However, those caught up in past detentions included a pregnant woman and a 14-year-old boy.
"We too are concerned about security but we think just because there are concerns about a few doesn't justify detaining everybody."
Feature: Immigration
AUSTRALIA IS A FASCISM STYLE COUNTRY. IT IS COMPULSORY TO VOTE. CAN BE FINED AND JAILED
FOR NOT VOTING.
FOR NOT VOTING.
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