BY ERIN KILLION
CANBERRA — Labor Senator Kate Lundy has spoken out against the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, saying that the policy "in its current form is not an acceptable way to process asylum seekers" and that "children should never be detained under harsh conditions such as those presently used".
Speaking to a 100-strong meeting of Labor for Refugees on May 22, Lundy argued that, while border protection is a "legitimate" need, the prime minister had distorted its meaning during the 2001 election.
Labor, she said, lost the election "because it was blind to the depths to which the Liberal party would sink".
Lundy said she believed it was "not appropriate" to release refugees straight into the community, and that "some form of initial short-term custody" may be necessary, but also acknowledged that she was "not an expert" and that her views on the matter were still being formed.
Other speakers at the forum went further that Lundy, some arguing against the need for even short-term custody.
Phil Griffiths from the Refugee Action Committee said that he believes there is "no need to detain refugees at all" and that there is an inconsistency in "saying refugees are no threat to Australia, and then advocating locking them up for a month".
Nick Martin from Labor For Refugees explained that the group concedes the need for an initial period of 3-6 weeks, during which asylum seekers would be held in minimum-security facilities, but described his group's support for an end to mandatory detention as "non-negotiable".
He also said: "The only reason the Liberals can manipulate public opinion so effectively is because of federal Labor's position."
Speakers both from the floor and the platform expressed considerable support for the planned national day of action for refugee-rights on June 23.
From Green Left Weekly, May 29, 2002.
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