The overdue release of dozens of refugees from immigration detention is a very welcome glimmer of humanity in Australia’s refugee policy, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim says.

“These men have been through so much for so long, and for them now to be able to breathe free air is a wonderful step forward for them,” Senator McKim said. 

“There are still over 150 people who suffered through years of offshore detention detained in Australia. They should also be immediately released.”

The Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 is irredeemable and must be rejected by the Senate, the Greens say in their Dissenting Report to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry.

”The amendments proposed by this Bill are punitive, disproportionate and contrary to Australia's international human rights commitments,” Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

The Government’s latest attempt to prohibit items in immigration detention centres is a massive overreach, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This is a transparent attempt to cut people in immigration detention off from the outside world,” Senator McKim said.

“Phones in immigration detention are absolutely essential.”

“They allow people to stay in touch with friends and family, and they also help shine the disinfectant of sunlight on abuses which are all too common.”

Papua New Guinea's refusal to allow the men Peter Dutton is imprisoning on Manus Island to be abandoned means the government must bring them here to Australia, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"It is clear Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull cannot abandon their political prisoners in Papua New Guinea, nor can they leave them in a half-demolished detention centre," Senator McKim said.

"There is only one choice - evacuate these men to Australia."

"The Liberals' offshore detention regime, fully supported by Labor, has created a humanitarian crisis."

Peter Dutton must accept responsibility and come clean about his illegal detention of at least two Australian citizens, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"Peter Dutton wrongfully robbed these Australians of their freedom," Senator McKim said.

"He is running an offshore detention regime that has deprived thousands of refugees and asylum seekers of their liberty and deliberately harmed men, women and children."

"Whether through incompetence or design, the focus of Peter Dutton's cruel regime has now been trained on Australian citizens."

Amnesty International's report on the Manus Island shooting and concessions from PNG police have made clear Peter Dutton's catastrophic failure to keep people safe as well as his disgraceful dishonesty.

"The report and PNG police have made it clear that bullets were fired upon the detention centre, contrary to Dutton's claims," Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim said.

"People in his care are being shot at and he has not lifted a finger to keep them safe. This is an appalling act of neglect."

Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says the decision to bar him from visiting Australia's Manus Island detention centre continues the disgraceful secrecy of the Australian government's policies.

"This is a deeply disappointing decision that shows the utter determination to keep a veil of secrecy around Australia’s detention centres and the Good Friday attacks," Senator McKim said.

"People are being warehoused as far from scrutiny as the Australian government can hide them."

"It would not surprise if Peter Dutton has his fingerprints on the decision."