Detention ‘Accommodation’ Bills – Politicians Do RIGHT Thing

Here’s some good news – just received from GetUp. The bill to abolish debt incurred for accommodation in Australian detention centres has been passed by the Senate.

GetUp thanks the caring people who have supported their running on this issue and cite Masoud’s experience:

Masoud, His Temporary Visa, His Accommodation Bill

“After four years in immigration detention, Masoud was granted a temporary visa. Then he was hit with a $264,000 bill for his ‘accommodation’ in Baxter Detention Centre. There are hundreds more like him – experiencing unimaginable trauma only to then be slugged with an enormous bill for the privilege..

In an historic move, Liberal Senator Troeth, who met with a GetUp delegation of those affected by this policy, abandoned her party’s position and crossed the floor to support the bill. She was joined, at the last minute, by Senator Fielding – whose support we will need on other refugee reform bills in the coming months.

So often we criticise politicians for not standing up and speaking out. Now it is our responsibility to thank them for doing the right thing. With other key refugee and asylum seeker reform bills up for debate shortly, it’s important that we take a moment to thank Senator Troeth and Senator Fielding who took the courageous move of voting on moral rather than party lines.

Having seen the faces, heard the stories and seen the emotions of those affected by this bill, our politicians found it in their hearts to end this injustice.

In no small part, the efforts of GetUp members, along with the support of so many refugee and asylum seeker campaigners across the nation, made a huge difference to the passing of this amendment. This change will see improvements in the lives of hundreds of Australians who simply want to get on with their lives. No longer will asylum seekers begin a new life in Australia under the heavy burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars of detention debt.”

Some Facts As Cited By GetUp

• Detention debt is the amount of money owed to the Government by ex-immigration detainees
• The detention charge severely hampers ex- detainees attempts to settle in Australia once released, placing a heavy burden on their mental well-being
• Concerns over the ability to repay the debt are sources of substantial anxiety impeding the capacity of immigrants to establish a productive life
• These debts can range from $45,000 to, in Masoud’s case, $264,000. Clearly, newly settled immigrants don’t have the capacity to pay such large debts
• Almost all of the debt is in practice not ever recovered, with the policy in often costing more to administer then what is collect

You can send these Senators a message of thanks here.