Labor has had to bear the responsibility of introducing mandatory detention. I am very pleased that it can also claim the credit for doing away with it.
ELSEWHERE: Senator Evans’s speech sets out the plan for reforming detention policy. There is commentary from both Andrew Bartlett and Tim Dunlop. As Tim notes, the Opposition has responded by playing its greatest hits.
I don’t know if they have actually “done away” with it TZ. They have put the onus on the Dept to justify mandatory detention. So from me they do get a bravo, but I won’t shout encore just yet.
I think it is fair to say they have done away with it – it seems to me that the retention of the term “mandatory detention” is a political consideration. Assuming the finished product matches the principles Chris Evans outlined in his speech today, detention will be applied only to those who meet criteria for risk and will be subject to ongoing review. While it may still be referred to as mandatory detention, it seems to be discretionary and subject to justification.
[...] Friday, 24 October, 2008 by Tobias Ziegler It looks like some conservatives are keeping a weather eye on Australia’s territorial waters, as they prepare for an influx of illegal immigrants in the wake of changes to the mandatory detention policy. Apparently we are up to three boats bringing unauthorised arrivals since the new policy was announced. [...]
[...] I wrote this at my old blog a year ago. I stand by it. It looks like some conservatives are keeping a weather eye on Australia’s territorial waters, as they prepare for an influx of illegal immigrants in the wake of changes to the mandatory detention policy. Apparently we are up to three boats bringing unauthorised arrivals since the new policy was announced. [...]