mandatory detention

The Greens say former prime minister John Howard is hardly deserving of
a Medal of Freedom from US President George W Bush, given his record on
human rights. 

Howard has been named as a recipient of the United States Presidential
Medal of Freedom, along with former British prime minister Tony Blair
and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe. 

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has lent support to comments by a
former human rights commissioner, backing his calls for more
investigation into Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.

Dr Sev Ozdowski, the former head of the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission, has recommended deeper investigation into

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's call for a Royal Commission into immigration detention, to investigate the psychological impact of Australia's immigration policies on detainees, has been backed by a leading human rights expert.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has reiterated the Greens’ call for an inquiry into the harmful effects of immigration detention on children, following a report of blatant disregard for a child’s mental health by former immigration minister Philip Ruddock.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called on Immigration Minister Chris Evans to ensure that children are not being detained, and will not be detained, under the Minister's recently announced key immigration values.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young today urged the Rudd Government to inquire into the ongoing effects Australia's immigration policy has had on over 2,000 former imprisoned children and their families.

"Even though children are now released from detention, the psychological effects of the incarceration can go on," she said.

Listen to audio of speech here.

It is a great honour to be standing here today, not just in this remarkable place that is the Senate but at a time when the challenges that we face as a country and the decisions that we will make as representatives are more important than ever in determining the destiny of future generations. 

Today is the first day of spring, a day when we pull back the curtains and let the sun shine in after months of grey. May this spring mark the beginning of a new phase in Australia's history where fresh ideas and innovation are actively sourced and debated in an attempt to find solutions to our biggest challenge of all: balancing human needs with our finite and fragile environment.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has condemned the Federal Government and Opposition's refusal to investigate the psychological harm caused to children held in mandatory detention as inhumane.

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said the Commonwealth could face over $10 million in compensation payments for unlawful immigration detentions after it was revealed at today's Senate estimates that $620,000 was paid to the first eight claimants.

Questions by Senator Nettle at Senate Estimates revealed: