Petty Political Power Struggles while Child sets herself on Fire on Nauru

The priorities of those who decided that indefinite offshore detention was an appropriate policy are sickeningly clear today. While people with the privilege of having jobs where they can affect positive change in the world waste time trading Ministry promises for "being on my team", THIS is actually happening, (thanks to those very same people) … …

New Minister for Immigration – time for a change in policy as well as personnel

It's no surprise that Peter Dutton today placed his personal ambition ahead of his responsibilities to the mega-ministerial role he orchestrated for himself. Perhaps some politicians lobby for a portfolio that covers immigration, national security, law enforcement, emergency management, transport security and border control because they feel they have much to offer the Australia population in …

“THE TIME HAS COME” – by Turnbull’s standards, he and Dutton must resign

The state of conditions – and healthcare is a prominent element – in immigration detention has reached a level that means that the Australian government can no longer deny both inflicting harm on and fighting to retain inferior care for the innocent people they hold indefinitely offshore. And, by the standards espoused by the country's …

Coroner finds Australia SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for death of asylum seeker

The outcome of one of the two* coronial inquests into deaths in offshore detention underway this week has been damning for the Australian government's treatment of people seeking asylum. The Queensland Coroner this morning delivered a conclusion that confirms what those incarcerated and those advocating for them have been stating for years – that both patients and doctors …

Finally, dying refugee moved to Australia for palliative care

"A dying Afghan refugee held on Nauru for five years has been transferred to Australia for palliative care after a sustained campaign of pressure from doctors, medical peak bodies, the media, members of the public, and even members of the Australian Border Force" the Guardian has reported exclusively today. Having posted about this situation ("More Australian government …

Another suicide on Nauru … thanks to a policy that’s “saving lives”

Now is the time. If you've EVER considered that Australia's policies affecting people seeking asylum are wrong, please SPEAK OUT. Please share this tragic news and encourage others to use their democratic power to change the cruel approach advocated by both the Coalition and Labor. Yet another innocent person is dead because of indefinite offshore …

UPDATES reveal more about Australian government’s agenda

Cardiac patient flown from Nauru to Taiwan Family on flight to Sri Lanka get last minute reprieve 'Email Empathy'  has noted the plights of just a few of the people seeking asylum in Australia as examples of widespread treatment by officials. These illustrate the unnecessary cruelty of the federal government's policies. In the past couple of …

When a 6yr old says her name is ‘EZB037’, something is very very wrong

During my first visits to the Nauru "regional processing centre" in 2014, I knelt down to speak with a six year-old girl. Asking her name, I was disturbed when she answered with a boat number, "EZB037.” Believing she misheard, I asked again, only to hear the same letters and number repeated. We can only imagine …

TOO SICK to transfer from Nauru for urgent medical treatment

Today, another harrowing personal story has highlighted one of the many cruelly damaging aspects of Australia's offshore processing/detention policy. A Rohingya man who has been on Nauru for years – even though his wife and baby have been transferred to Australia – was reported as being unable to be transferred to Australia because his health …

Myths/Spin/Lies? … THE TRUTH ALL AUSTRALIANS NEED TO KNOW

On Monday (11 Dec), Peter Dutton threw out accusations of "lying" and "propaganda' and Malcolm Turnbull appeared on Q&A congratulating his coalition government for saving lives at sea, putting the people smugglers out of business and and having "one of the most generous humanitarian programs in the world", making the real issue that … ALL Australians …