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senate vote 2018-10-17#13
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2018-11-11 16:11:56
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Title
Motions — Immigration Detention- Motions - Immigration Detention - Congratulating Liberal members for stance against children in detention
Description
<p class="speaker">Nick McKim</p><p>I add the names of senators Storer, Griff and Senator Hinch as co-sponsors of this motion.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p>- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-10-17.235.1) introduced by Greens Senator [Nick McKim](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/nick_mckim) (Tas), which means it succeeded. Motions like these don't make legal changes themselves but can be politically influential as they represent the will of the Senate.
- ### Motion text
- > *That the Senate—*
- > *(a) notes:*
- >> *(i) that there are currently around 100 children being detained by the Australian Government on Nauru,*
- >> *(ii) that many, if not all of these children, are suffering serious psychological disorders, such as 'resignation syndrome', where children abandon all hopes of a better life, and become suicidal,*
- >> *(iii) that the Australian Medical Association has called on the Government for "urgent action to prevent further harm to the health and welfare of child refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, [and that] these children and their families be removed from harm and have access to healthcare of an appropriate standard",*
- >> *(iv) that nearly 6 000 doctors have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, [Mr Morrison](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/cook/scott_morrison), supporting this call from the Australian Medical Association,*
- >> *(v) [Mr Broadbent](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/mcmillan/russell_broadbent)'s statement that "This is an embarrassing humanitarian crisis that the government needs to resolve in a manner acceptable to the Australian people",*
- >> *(vi) [Mr Laundy](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/reid/craig_laundy)'s statement that "something must be done as soon as possible",*
- >> *(vii) [Ms Banks](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/chisholm/julia_banks)' statement that this change-of-heart "comes from the hearts and minds of the Australian people", and*
- >> *(viii) the agreement of these three Liberal MPs that "these kids have been there far too long";*
- > *(b) congratulates and thanks the brave Liberal members who told the Government their focus is only on the welfare of the children; ...*
<p>So added.</p> <p class="speaker">Nick McKim</p><p>I move:</p><p class="italic">That the Senate—</p><p class="italic">(a) notes:</p><p class="italic">  (i) that there are currently around 100 children being detained by the Australian Government on Nauru,</p><p class="italic">  (ii) that many, if not all of these children, are suffering serious psychological disorders, such as 'resignation syndrome', where children abandon all hopes of a better life, and become suicidal,</p><p class="italic">  (iii) that the Australian Medical Association has called on the Government for "urgent action to prevent further harm to the health and welfare of child refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, [and that] these children and their families be removed from harm and have access to healthcare of an appropriate standard",</p><p class="italic">  (iv) that nearly 6 000 doctors have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Morrison, supporting this call from the Australian Medical Association,</p><p class="italic">  (v) Mr Broadbent's statement that "This is an embarrassing humanitarian crisis that the government needs to resolve in a manner acceptable to the Australian people",</p><p class="italic">  (vi) Mr Laundy's statement that "something must be done as soon as possible",</p><p class="italic">  (vii) Ms Banks' statement that this change-of-heart "comes from the hearts and minds of the Australian people", and</p><p class="italic">  (viii) the agreement of these three Liberal MPs that "these kids have been there far too long";</p><p class="italic">(b) congratulates and thanks the brave Liberal members who told the Government their focus is only on the welfare of the children; and</p><p class="italic">(c) calls on the Federal Government to immediately bring every child in detention on Nauru to Australia for urgent medical and psychological assessment and treatment, along with the family members of children being assessed and treated.</p> <p class="speaker">Anne Ruston</p><p>I seek leave to make a short statement.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>Leave is granted for one minute.</p> <p class="speaker">Anne Ruston</p><p>Illegal maritime arrivals will never settle in Australia. There are 65 health professionals contracted by the Australian government to provide health services on Nauru, including 33 mental health professionals. These services are available seven days and week and after hours. This is a ratio of one medical professional for every 11 transferees on the island. Decisions about medical transfers are made on a case-by-case basis under the guidance of the Commonwealth medical officer.</p> <p class="speaker">Scott Ryan</p><p>I've been asked by Senator Chisholm to put paragraphs (a) and (b), in the first instance, and paragraph (c), in the second instance, separately, as senators intend to vote differently. The question is that paragraphs (a) and (b) of motion No. 1145 be agreed to.</p>
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