<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/21/never-given-a-chance-freed-asylum-seekers-lament-lost-decade-in-immigration-detention>
"At least eight Bangladeshi asylum seekers have been released from immigration
detention in Australia after languishing there for a decade, in a move that
signals the Albanese government is winding back arbitrary detention, according
to a lawyer for some of the men.
But while their release has given them hope, the men have spoken out about the
terrible toll of the lengthy period of indefinite detention.
“Who is going to give me back 10 years of my life?” one man said through an
interpreter.
“That was the most valuable time of my life, in my 20s, it’s 10 years I will
never get back.”
The Bangladeshi asylum seekers were released on 10 November on temporary
six-month visas with work rights, after being held in detention centres
including Yongah Hilland the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation.
Refugee lawyer Alison Battisson, the director principal of Human Rights for
All, which represents six of the asylum seekers, said their release is evidence
the government is winding back arbitrary detention, using “God-like”
ministerial powers to clear what the home affairs department calls an
“intractable” caseload of people in detention."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
