All I can say is “praise God”.  A blight on our claim to welcome refugees is finally (finally!) cleared up with this news that Australia will no longer charge refugees with the costs of their detention.  Yes, you read that right…my country used to charge refugees for the costs of “processing” (ie: keeping them in today’s version of concentration camps) their claims.

Defiant Opposition MPs allowed the Government to remove ”a blot on our statute book” billing refugees for their detention.

A lone Liberal senator, Judith Troeth, crossed the floor of Federal Parliament to scrap the debts only Australia imposed on people owed protection. But the retiring senator’s move captured the sentiment of more within her party but whose political ambitions stopped them from following her.

It is understood the Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull, was not unhappy at the bill’s passage. (I respect this man, but … what on earth was this about?)

Since 1992, refugees have been required to reimburse the Government for the costs of their mandatory detention. Less than 3 per cent is ever recovered.  Last financial year the cost of chasing the debt exceeded the amount collected. The cancellation was supported by the Greens, the independent senator Nick Xenophon and Family First’s Senator Steve Fielding.  Refugee advocates and affected families were happy to see the debts wiped. ”It really rights a wrong,” the Refugee Council of Australia’s chief executive, Paul Power, said.

Masoud Shams, an Iranian refugee who suffers depression after four years in detention, was elated. His debt of $268,000 will now be cancelled. ”I’m actually very happy. I live in a country which is fair,” he said. ”The worst thing about detention is when you see the kids cutting themselves and people hanging. If a refugee comes to your country, treat them as human.”  Other Coalition senators including Russell Trood, Guy Barnett and Simon Birmingham silently backed the abolition of detention debts by abstaining from the vote.

Source: Compiled by APN from media reports

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