Victory for detainees a first step

Sydney Diocese’s top ethicist has cautiously welcomed the softening of the Howard Government’s stance on the mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

“The new policies are good, because they take seriously the moral problem that arises when detainees are not processed in a timely way,” said Dr Andrew Cameron, chair of the Sydney Diocesan Social Issue Executive. “The Prime Minister is to be congratulated.”

However, Dr Cameron said some important questions remain outstanding.

“The policy of mandatory detention is creating some of the present problems. An alternative policy, where a very limited detention is allowed for security checks and where the non-citizen then resides in the community while her status is settled, might be more effective. To be fair, the Government’s recent changes to the ‘Return Pending Bridging Visa’ might indicate that it is moving in this direction.”

Archbishop Peter Jensen and Sydney’s five regional bishops lent their support to four Liberal backbenchers, including Sydney Anglican Bruce Baird MP, who were successful in convincing the Prime Minister to free women and children in detention and grant permanent protection to refugees.

Mr Baird said the change was ‘more humane’.

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