Isn't it horrifying to read that there are still detainees in Villawood and that they have to take to hunger strikes to get publicity? I thought one of Labor's priorities was to get detainees out of detention and into the community!

ekastahr2,

Many of the detainees in Villawood are criminals that have been released from jail on parole but have not yet completed their sentances. Once their jail sentance is completed they will be deported. Are these criminal types the sort of people we want to be welcoming into Australia with open arms?

The solution is simple.

As these people have crossed over many other countries to get to ours they are not refugees any longer. Send them back to their country of origin. If that cannot be done then send them back to the last country they were in.

Steel Mann wrote:
"Many of the detainees in Villawood are criminals that have been released from jail on parole but have not yet completed their sentances. Once their jail sentance is completed they will be deported. Are these criminal types the sort of people we want to be welcoming into Australia with open arms?"

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has condemned Villawood Detention Centre high security section as the worst in the country and said it should be closed down. As it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights Australia should not continue to allow abuses whether or not the victims have been convicted of a crime.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/villawood-targeted-as-worst-in-country/2008/01/09/1199554742688.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/4ccgzl

But not all detainees are convicted criminals, many are visitors who have overstayed their visas or asylum seekers who fear persecution if returned to their country of origin, like these:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/falun-gong-followers-caught-in-dangerous-immigration-catch22/2008/11/02/1225560645026.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
or
http://tinyurl.com/4q5nwp

Mandatory detention should be abolished and all the detention centres closed permanently.

If they entered the country illegally, what is the problem with detention?

Maybe you bleeding hearts would like them to come live with (and sponge off) you.

The detention centres have a dreadful
reputation.

I don't know what's going on
in Villawood, however,
if the people have entered the country
illegally why should it take so long to
sort them out?

Why can other countries
process illegal immigrants promptly and
Australia can't?