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Submission to National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention from
Terri Mayr
Many, many people in Australia are absolutely appalled at the treatment of asylum seekers incarcerated in Australia, under conditions that contravene international human rights conventions.
My knowledge of the conditions in Woomera is better than most Australians as both my sister and a good friend were employed in Woomera Detention Centre last year. They have both told me endless stories that bring tears to my eyes and tear at my heart.
I am ashamed that I live in a country where such cruelty is perpetrated out of sight and constantly lied about or denied, even if by omission.
In April 2002, Amnesty International Australia asked for people to consider donating $1.50 AUD stamps. These stamps would be provided to detainees to attach to donated postcards to send to their mothers and family overseas. I was almost physically sick when I read this. Certainly I was distressed for quite some time. I could not stop thinking of wretched, depressed, hopeless asylum seekers writing to their mother's on the back of kangaroos, koalas and platypuses; traumatised innocent children leaning on their beds writing on the backs of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Adelaide Tram and some of our finest beaches - all sights they will never get to see themselves.
I correspond with detainees and send small gifts to lighten a small moment in their days of inhumane existence.
I support anyway I can those detainees I meet who have been released into our community under the restrictive uncertainty of a Temporary Protection Visa.
Prime Minister John Howard recently told the Southern Cross Network that the Government is listening to what people have got to say. "I don't want this country to lose its strong tradition of civil liberties and its tradition of being a liberal democracy," Mr Howard said. "It's treasuring of the principles that somebody is innocent until proven guilty - all of [these] things are very important," he said.
This country has already lost it and he isn't listening to everyone.
I expect you will see past the illusion of care and concern as exhibited by ACM and DIMIA. I hope you can make a difference.
Last Updated 9 January 2003.
