The impact of being detained on-shore : the plight of asylum-seekers in Australia

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Abstract

Increasingly, when confronted by the displaced, Australia’s response has exemplified the objective of control that is being vigorously pursued globally by democratic states who are threatened by involuntary movements of people. Australia’s policy of mandatory detention, which all non-citizens arriving in an unauthorised manner are subject to, along with the temporary protection visa regime, has a significant impact on the identity, and eventual settlement in Australia, of asylum seekers.2 Yet in many discussions about detention the voices of asylum seekers are absent. One reason for the ‘success’ of this mandatory detention policy is that no one in the wider community ‘hears their voices’ and journalists find it difficult to gain direct comments from asylum seekers. This paper will look at the detention regime in Australia. Specifically, it will present responses to detention from refugees who have been held in immigration detention centres (“IDCs”) in Australia. Their words are powerful and demonstrate the impact of the regime that thousands of people fleeing persecution are subjected to in Australia.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)288-302
Number of pages15
JournalUniversity of New South Wales Law Journal
Volume23
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2000

Keywords

  • political refugees
  • Australia

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