Australian of the Year demands release of refugees

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 January 2010, 16:28 GMT]
Mental health expert Patrick McGorry has slammed the Australian Government’s policies of mandatory detention of asylum seekers on offshore facilities, labelling the centres "factories for producing mental illness" and urging Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to free refugees, including hundreds of Tamils, currently being detained there.

"Detention centres ... you could almost describe them as factories for producing mental illness and mental disorder ... it's an absolute disaster," MGcorry said on Monday, hours after being awarded the prestigious Australian of The Year Award for his tireless efforts in helping young people plagued by mental health related issues.

In his acceptance speech, McGorry promised to take on PM Rudd’s stance on the issue, who only moments earlier described the world renowned psychiatrists contribution to the nation as one that “cannot every be fully measured”.

Prof McGorry urged the Government to allow asylum seekers to be allowed to live in communities and bypass the detention process whilst awaiting processing, which he believed would only compound the trauma that many refugees fleeing regions of bloodshed have already endured.

"I've heard some terrible stories and I've seen some lives really shattered by this policy" he said in his address outside Parliament House.

The Government has so far resisted calls by human rights groups for the Christmas Island detainment facility to be closed amid fears of the psychological impact long term detention is having upon detainees, evidenced by a spate of incidents including scuffles between Afghan and Tamil refugees.


Related Articles:
13.01.10   Australian Intelligence assessment leaves refugees in limbo
12.01.10   Australia urged to assess refugee claims without external in..
02.12.09   Australians slam 'Indonesian Solution'

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31059