After consistently ignoring independent reports of the unacceptable conditions in the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres, the government today voted against a motion calling for full media access to the island facilities.

“I think the Australian public deserve to know what the government is so desperate to keep hidden and I will continue to fight for media access to the detention centres in the future,” the Greens immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Australia needs an independent guardian for all refugee children in detention, the Australian Greens said today.

“Independent guardianship is essential because someone needs to stand up and take care of these children,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“While inspecting the PNG detention centre this week I heard concerning reports that an unaccompanied child may currently be held on Manus Island.

A young mother named Ranjini who is facing indefinite detention in Australia has given birth to her third child; another innocent new-born who will be detained despite having committed no crime.

“What should be a joyous time for Ranjini and her family is no doubt tinged with despair as she knows her children face unreasonable and lengthy detention,” the Greens immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Government should choose to do the right thing and shut down its offshore detention centres, instead of running the risk of being forced to do so by the PNG legal system, the Australian Greens said today.

“The indefinite and arbitrary detention of refugee children is beyond moral comprehension and the Australian Government must act to bring these children back to Australia before any more damage is done,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

After introducing a bill and appealing to both the Government and the opposition to establish a special visa class for Afghan interpreters, the Greens welcome the establishment of a program that recognises the important contribution of Afghan personnel who are at risk because of their work for our defence force.

“It is essential that we recognise the contribution of these brave people and I am glad to hear that the Government has followed the Greens’ lead on this issue,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

Human rights groups in Australia are making themselves heard every day to the betterment of our society, but the Australian Government needs to follow their lead if real change is to be achieved, the Australian Greens said today.

"International Human Rights Day gives us all a chance to recognise the efforts of people around Australia who work tirelessly to defend the rights of the less powerful," the Greens' Human Rights spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The controversial cost of offshore processing needs to be recognised for what it is; billions of dollars spent to needlessly punish vulnerable people in an attempt to make a political point, the Greens said today.

 “Labor and Liberals’ race to the bottom is costing billions of dollars,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

 “Shutting down these expensive and cruel camps and having time limits on detention would save the Australian tax payer billions.

A Senate inquiry report has been released today in which the Greens recommend an independent panel be urgently created to oversee the physical and mental health of refugees in detention offshore.

“It was made clear during this inquiry that the Australian Government has been failing in its duty of care to the people we have locked up in detention centres offshore,” the Greens immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.