By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A LA TROBE campaigner against detention of refugee children has lashed out at the Federal Government, accusing it of “treating Australian voters as morons” over what she claims to be a deceptive reclassification of detention for mainland refugees.
On Sunday 3 April, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced the last child held in immigration detention in Australia was released into community detention.
A day later, he confirmed dozens of asylum seeker children will be returned to Nauru.
Judy Taylor, co-convenor for the La Trobe Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children group, was appalled by the government, claiming that the circumstances had changed very little for these detained child refugees.
Instead, she claimed the government had rebranded detention centres to fit the definition of ‘community detention’.
“Sources from within his own office have said (detainees) haven’t moved, they are in the same space but maybe with one or two extra rights … or freedoms which can presumably be removed again,” Judy said.
“Now there are no children in immigration detention in Australia simply because they changed the definition of what it means.
“It’s appalling abuse. The government is treating the Australian voters as if they are morons.
“I am furious about it. Absolutely furious.”
The Gazette understands the same day the last child was freed, locks were removed and security arrangements were altered at Villawood Detention Centre, located 27km west of Sydney.
Accusations that Australian detention centres had been reclassified to meet the promise of freeing children from mainland facilities was put to Mr Dutton’s office.
The Gazette did not receive a response.
Questions about the definitional difference between immigration and community detention also went unanswered.
The La Trobe branch of the Grandmothers against Detention of Refugee Children will hold their first meeting at 3pm on 20 April at Emerald Community House.
Ms Taylor said their campaign focused on informing the region about detention of refugee children and families, particularly in the lead-up to the Federal Election.
She urged those opposed to the mandatory detention of refugee children to make their concerns known to their federal member.
Anyone who wants to join the group or provide support for the cause is asked to contact grandmotherslatrobe@gmail.com.
