Aust Greens welcome settlement for damaged refugee

Greens welcome settlement for damaged refugee: call on Minister to make public apology

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today welcomed the settlement of case of
11yr old Shayan Badraie who was suing the Federal Government for damages for the trauma he suffered whilst in immigration detention in Woomera and Villawood.

"Today's settlement represents an admission by the government that their policy of mandatory detention psychologically damages those it detains," Senator Nettle said.

"It's time the Minister made a public apology to all the detainees who have been scared by their time in detention and ended the policy of mandatory detention which continues to damage asylum seekers.

"Whilst ever this government continues to build and operate desert and remote island detention camps and refuses to deal with asylum claims humanely then tragedies like this case will continue.

"The costs of the mandatory detention continue to mount both in human and financial terms. There are hundreds of former detainees who may feel emboldened by this result to pursue their own claims against the government.

"The Greens congratulate the Badraie family for their brave stand in taking this action and hope that this win marks the beginning of a happy life for them in Australia.

© Scoop Media