Call to end ‘immoral’ refugee detention

Parliamentarians are being urged to support a proposal to end mandatory immigration detention in Australia and replace the program with community alternatives

• Maeve Bannister, AAP
• Crikey

A proposal to abolish Australia’s costly mandatory immigration detention scheme has been backed by two independent lower house crossbenchers and refugee advocates.

Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie introduced the bill to the new parliament for consideration, calling for an end to the “torturous conditions” experienced by detainees.

His proposal would mandate time frames on detention, require independent oversight, introduce minimum conditions and make detention a…

• Call to end…