John Key must raise Nauru “human rights catastrophe” with Abbott

John Key must raise Nauru’s disgraceful detention centres with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Green Party said today.

John Key is in Australia on a two day visit. His trip follows Nauru’s controversial sacking and deportation of its chief justice and magistrate, and its recent decision to hike up the cost of journalist visas from $200 to $8,000.

“Interfering with the judiciary and increasing visa fees for journalists is all part of Nauru’s efforts to shut down criticism of what Amnesty International calls a ‘human rights catastrophe’ in its detention camps,” said Green Party human rights spokesperson Jan Logie.

“While Nauru descends into a state of chaos and ignores the rule of law, children continue to suffer in the detention camps. Enough is enough; these camps need to be shut down,” said Ms Logie.

The Abbott government earlier this week blocked a bid by the Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs to visit child asylum seekers on Nauru.

“When John Key said he would consider sending asylum seekers arriving in New Zealand to these camps, he made us complicit in this tragedy,” said Ms Logie.

“Our Prime Minister needs to take a stand for human rights and push for other more humane solutions to refugees than detention camps.

“Children in these camps are suffering.”

ends

© Scoop Media