The Guardian 12 March, 2008
ALP should not backflip
on detention centres
The new Labor government should not backflip on its election promise to have detention centres managed by the public sector, said Australian Greens spokesperson on Immigration, Senator Kerry Nettle.
"I am concerned that Minister Evans is preparing the ground for a back flip on whether immigration detention centres are managed by the Commonwealth or outsourced to the private sector," said Senator Nettle. "The Minister should make it clear whether the Rudd government supports public or private management of detention centres."
Ms Nettle pointed out that Labor policy at the election was for publicly managed detention centres, but that now the Minister is citing difficulties with contracts with private companies as a reason not to implement this clear policy.
"Private management of detention centres has been a disaster in terms of accountability and ensuring the humane treatment of asylum seekers and other detainees.
"The Howard government used private management of detention centres to shift the blame and muddy the waters of responsibility and the duty of care over detainees.
"Private management of detention centres were part of the problem with the tragic treatment of Cornelia Rau who was locked up as an asylum seeker when she was in fact an Australian citizen.
The Greens welcomed the government announcement of compensation for Ms Rau.
"Cornelia has written to The Greens upset at the three year delay in compensation and recognition of her ordeal," said Senator Nettle. "I’ve been pursuing the issue of compensation for years now and I’m happy that Cornelia will now be able to get on with her life."