Surely we are better than this

Yesterday the High Court of Australia ruled that Australia's off shore detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island are legal. This is despite the Government passing retrospective legislation while the case was still  being deliberated.

The judgment cleared the way for 267 asylum seekers, including more than 30 babies, who were brought to Australia for medical treatment, to be returned to Nauru.  This includes a 5 year old boy who was allegedly raped at  the detention centre on Nauru.  Other incidences of violence and sexual abuse have been reported. 

 Doctors who have treated children in the detention centres say they are extremely traumatised by their living conditions.  Doctors have been threatened with two years imprisonment if they speak out against the centres and what they have witnessed and children have been subjected to there.

Today church leaders have come out to say that they will provide sanctuary to asylum seekers threatened with deportation.  Hundreds are protesting in major and regional cities.

Protestors are not saying there should be unregulated entry into Australia.  With our geography, that is highly unlikely to occur anyway.  What we do say is that vulnerable babies and children should not be housed in appalling conditions where their mental and physical health is at risk.

Both major parties support this decision of offshore detention and sending these children back,  as do so many Australians.  Surely we are better than this.