Heidi-ho! Msolga, I'm a student. In class I wrote a paper which basically lashed out at this idea that there's no need for a royal commission because of the palmer enquiry... it got read out to the class as an example!
I haven't distributed the petition, mainly because I feel like it might not be needed anymore -there's so much pressure on the govt for a royal commission, and stories about mistreated detainees seem to break through every day now...
Oh yeah, at school no-one supports the current system. Anyone read Andrew Bolt's article about being easier on children in detention? Even he recognises the need for change, although making sure the public doesn't read it as criticism of the government is just as important to him!
Hey, dmarcie! You're a student!
Well I'm impressed. So advanced, you are!
So even Andrew Bolt is starting to see the light? Amazing!
Last Update: Monday, May 30, 2005. 4:56pm (AEST)
Cornelia Rau ... family submission raises prospect of criminal treatment. (Lateline)
Family fears Rau was abused
The family of Cornelia Rau has called for a full investigation to determine the extent of the physical and mental abuse she may have suffered while in the Baxter detention centre, and to exclude the possibility that she was sexually assaulted.
Ms Rau was detained in a Queensland prison and then in Baxter, near Port Augusta in South Australia, for a total of 10 months after being mistaken for an illegal immigrant.
The family has released the submission it has made to the Palmer inquiry, which is examining Ms Rau's wrongful detention.
Ms Rau's sister Chris broke down during the release of the submission, which says the treatment her sister received appears to have gone beyond punitive detention, and that the potential for abuse within the detention system is very high.
The submission's co-author, Associate Professor Ray Watterson, says Mr Palmer must investigate these matters.
"We're saying there are indications things might have occurred which could be described as criminal and that's for Mr Palmer to investigate," he said.
"There may be things beyond looking at people in the shower, placing your hands on people, forcibly, etc etc."
Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says the State Government is doing its best to provide Ms Rau's family with information about her case.
Her family has reportedly criticised the State Government in its submission to the Palmer Inquiry into Ms Rau's wrongful detention.
Mr Beattie has released a brief detailing efforts to help her family.
It says Ms Rau's sister will this week be provided with some of the information she has requested from Queensland Health, police and the Corrective Services Department.
However, the brief says there have been complex hurdles and the Government has had to carefully consider the release of documents to protect Ms Rau's privacy.
Documents
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says criticism of his Government by Cornelia Rau's family is unfair.
In its submission to the inquiry into Ms Rau's wrongful detention her family accuses the Government of failing to release information about her case.
Mr Beattie says there are legal restrictions but the family will this week be provided with some of the documents it has requested.
"This has been a legal nightmare," he said.
"If the Rau family want to feel angry with anyone they should feel angry with the Federal Government for not properly establishing this inquiry within the law so that people could ... be compelled to give evidence ... [and] when they do give evidence they're protected from defamation."
Not surprised.
And - while government guards are capable of great brutality, I believe this private guard crap means far less accountability - has done all over the world, sadly.
Yes, not exactly an "industry" well suited to privatisation!
'Tisn't a bloody "industry"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know you know that....
dlowan wrote:'Tisn't a bloody "industry"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yes, it is! Just look whose doing the dirty work!
... & it seems that there are endless numbers to be "processed"!
Oh, why, why did this all have to break through THIS year? Come next election and the public will have forgotten about it... and the Liberal campaign will focus on the need for "compassion" and innocently mention that it was Labor who introduced mandatory detention.
... & the government's response? (Pardon the confusion. Vivian Solon & Vivian Alvarez are both the same person.:
Last Update: Tuesday, June 28, 2005. 1:54pm (AEST)
Documents reveal Vivian Solon had severe injuries before she was deported (Lateline )
Immigration says Solon was fit to travel
The Federal Government says Australian citizen Vivian Solon was declared fit to travel before she was wrongly deported to the Philippines in 2001.
A medical report obtained by the ABC's Lateline program describes Ms Solon as a partial quadriplegic who was unable to sign her name on her travel papers.
A spokesman for the Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says the department was given medical clearance for Ms Solon before she left Australia.
The removal has been referred to the Palmer Inquiry into allegations about hundreds of immigration cases. ... <cont>
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1402148.htm
Damning report on Rau affair
By Michelle Grattan
July 6, 2005/the AGE
The Immigration Department has been accused of a massive failure in its handling of Cornelia Rau and aggravating her mental illness by 10 months of mistreatment.
In a damning report to the Federal Government, the department was criticised for failing to provide proper care to Ms Rau, "who was simply a person who desperately needed help"... <cont>
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/damning-report-on-rau-affair/2005/07/05/1120329447084.html
Our federal government has no time for accountability and it has no shame.
Whoa.....
That report certainly pulls no punches.
But will it bring about any long overdue changes?
